Just over two years ago, in February 2020, the body of 32-year-old Stephanie Simpson of Wānaka (formerly the UK) was found in a Pyke Creek canyon.

In an announcement made public today (Thursday June 15) the coroner has concluded the young woman died accidentally from drowning.

Stephanie, who had moved to Wānaka in November 2019 and planned to stay for a few months, had told friends she planned to hike to Brewster Hut (a six to eight hour advanced tramp), then go on to the Blue Pools. 

After she was reported missing, a five day search operation - a huge collaborative effort for a number of agencies, including the West Coast police and Wanaka Search and Rescue - concluded when her body was found.

Read more: The search for Stephanie

Coroner Alexander Ho concluded that Stephanie died on February 8, 2020 at Pyke Creek in Mount Aspiring National Park “from drowning occurring in the context of severe blunt force trauma”. 

He estimated it was more likely than not that, for unknown reasons, Stephanie entered the Pyke Creek gorge after departing from Brewster Hut in the direction of Mount Armstrong.

After about two hours in the gorge Stephanie’s GPS stopped recording.

“Stephanie stopped to rest about 750 metres downstream from when her GPS stopped recording. She removed her boots and left them neatly about 10 metres away from the creek edge,” he estimated.

The section of Pyke Creek where Stephanie was found consists of swift moving white water.

“For unknown reasons, Stephanie subsequently approached the creek in her socks and involuntarily entered the water, likely as the result of a trip or fall,” the coroner said.

“Stephanie drowned as a result.”

Changes to DOC signage and management  

A Department of Conservation (DOC) investigation following Stephanie’s death identified factors that could have led visitors like Stephanie into believing the Brewster Hut area was more controlled than it was, such as the word “track” in a DOC brochure to describe the access through the rocky terrain above Brewster Hut, and an information panel in Brewster Hut providing guidance on how to access Mount Armstrong.

DOC updated its visitor information, including on-site hazard signage, to ensure Brewster Hut and its surrounding access was managed for the appropriate visitor group. 

DOC visitor safety manager Andy Roberts gave evidence shortly after Stephanie’s death that while the Brewster Track is managed for “backcountry adventurers” (who are expected to have generally moderate to high backcountry skills), the area above Brewster Hut, including the unmarked and informal access route from the hut to Mount Armstrong, is designed for “remoteness seekers” with the highest level of risk tolerance and who have strong backcountry skills and experience.

He said DOC had been concerned that the Brewster Track had been increasingly attracting people with a lower risk tolerance and skill ability than was ideal, partly through the growth of attention in the location on social media.

There is now a warning sign in Brewster Hut informing visitors that the area beyond the hut can be hazardous and that there is no hazard management or visitor infrastructure.

DOC is continuing to monitor the profile of visitors and changes in the way they use the site, and evaluate its management to ensure it remains fit for purpose.

Coroner Ho said he could not say whether warning signs would have dissuaded Stephanie (a fit and experienced tramper) from moving beyond Brewster Hut, but added that any improvements to communication messages could “only be beneficial to visitors”.

Mountain Safety Council advice

Coroner Ho also reiterated Mountain Safety Council (MSC) advice that, in addition to issues of navigation and weather, two other factors may have contributed to Stephanie’s death: She did not appear to have a distress beacon she could have activated for help; and she was walking alone, increasing the risk of not being able to seek timely help if she got into difficulty.

Coroner Ho said while these safety messages are well publicised in New Zealand through a variety of sources they bear repeating and emphasising. 

“They may also not be well known to international tourists. For that reason, it is useful to publish them as coronial recommendations so that they reach as wide an audience as possible.”

MSC encourages everyone using the backcountry to consider the following:

Choose the right trip for you. Make sure your experience level matches your objective and that you are well prepared for your trip. Tramping off- track requires experience and skills, especially in terrain such as the area towards the Brewster Glacier. Make sure objectives like this sit within your comfort zone, particularly if venturing alone.

Understand the weather. Be prepared to change your plans due to the hazards which weather can bring. This does not just mean be prepared for rain or snow; warm and humid conditions can also be hazardous, and cloud cover can affect visibility, leading to navigational challenges. When changing your plan, weigh up the risks that may be involved in the new plan, particularly if it involves going off track.

Pack warm clothes, extra food and a backup means of navigation. Maps on phones or watches are excellent for getting around terrain, but it’s important to have a backup in the event the primary method is unusable. A protected paper map and compass are typically most reliable because they do not need batteries or electronic signals.

Carry emergency equipment such as a first aid kit that includes a survival blanket and an emergency shelter, especially when heading above the bush line.

Share your plans. Leaving detailed information about an itinerary with a trusted contact will allow search and rescue teams to be activated and reach the location sooner. Online resources such as planmywalk.nz offer an easy way to do this. It is also useful to leave clear intentions in hut books, even if not staying there overnight, to narrow down search parameters and provide hut occupants a reference point when concerned about a person’s plans or whereabouts.

Take ways to get help. All trampers should carry a distress beacon (either satellite messenger or Personal Locator Beacon) and particularly when intending to travel in remote areas with no cell coverage.

Take care of yourself and each other. Focus must be maintained throughout your trip, particularly when off-track. Pacing, route-finding and other techniques may have to adjust to being physically and mentally tired. Paying attention to where you have come from can greatly assist if needing to backtrack.

MSC also said extra emphasis should be placed on this guidance when tramping solo, recommending that in terrain such as around Brewster Hut and Mount Armstrong trampers travel in small groups.