TV director dies trying to retrieve snowboard on New Zealand mountain

A British TV director has died in a 150m plunge down a mountain in New Zealand.

Caroline Johnstone, 44, was snowboarding at Whakapapa ski field and went beyond the danger signs when she slipped on ice while trying to retrieve her lost snowboard on Saturday.

According to The New Zealand Herald, Johnstone fell 15m over a cliff before tumbling down a further 150m.

Constable Conrad Smith of National Park police said: "She's gone past warning signs and dangers signs to look for her board and she's fallen off a cliff."

Her partner Chrissie Lahood was on the mountain with her but had skied to the car park to wait for Caroline.

Stuff.co.nz reports that she saw a helicopter and went to the medical centre before being told about her partner's accident.

Johnstone lived in New Zealand and worked as a freelance television director.

Related articles

British snowboarder dies in 16ft crevasse fall in Chamonix

Snowboarder dies in avalanche at Lake Tahoe-area resort