Tourist dies in fall from helicopter
US tourist dies in fall from helicopter
22 May 2006 
An American tourist fell 300m to his death after stepping out of a helicopter and plummeting down a steep bluff this afternoon in the Southern Alps before the horrified gaze of his hunting companions.
Constable Phil Vink from the Wanaka police said the middle-aged man was one of three hunters in a helicopter, which landed about 3pm on a ridge at Albert Burn, about 7km south of the head of Lake Wanaka – not at Albert Town, as was earlier reported.
"I believe one person had already jumped out of the helicopter, when this gentleman stepped down and somehow slipped and fell over the bluff," he said.
The pilot immediately flew down to where the man had fallen but was unable to land.
However, Mr Vink said those on board could clearly see the man was dead.
An alpine rescue team, including one police officer, flew to the area this afternoon in an attempt to retrieve the body, but bad weather stopped them from landing.
They will return tomorrow.