Dead climber brave, adventurous - father
By Amy Fallon and Katherine Danks
March 31, 2004

A 22-YEAR-old Australian mountaineer who fell more than 1000m to his death from New Zealand's Mt Cook had an adventurous spirit and great courage, his father said today.

Phillip William Toms, of Glenn Innes in northern NSW, died yesterday as he attempted the ascent to Linda Route on the 3754m peak, the country's highest mountain.

New Zealand police said Toms, along with another Australian, a Swede and a Briton, were attempting to climb the mountain's east face when he fell.

The group were standing above the Summit Rocks discussing the climb to the summit 300m above, when Toms either tripped or slipped and fell more than 1000m, police said.

Today, Phillip's parents and 19-year-old sister were still coming to grips with the tragedy.

"He was not only a son, but a mate," Phillip's father, Steve Toms, said from his Glen Innes home.

"He was a passionate walker, climber, mountain biker.

"He loved the bush. He loved getting out in the wild. He loved challenges. He demonstrated great leadership and drive in what he did. He was also intellectually incredibly bright."

Mr Toms said Phillip, who worked in the outdoor recreation retail industry, had travelled to New Zealand in January for a mountaineering course but stayed on.

"I'm sure he knew there was a risk and he was always very well prepared," Mr Toms said.

"He was very fit and looked after himself incredibly well. He had great courage and stamina."

Phillip is one of many in a growing list of Australians who have died in the area.

Two years ago, Sydneysider Justin Dawson McDonald, 34, was buried in snow for six hours after falling into a 34-metre deep crevasse. He was airlifted to hospital but died a day later.

In December last year, Tasmanians Dave Gardner, 40, and Andrew Platts, 31, were killed along with two New Zealand men after an avalanche on Mt Tasman in the Mt Cook-Aoraki National Park.

Mr Toms said the family may cremate Phillip in Timaru, New Zealand, before bringing the ashes to Australia for a service in Glen Innes.
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"Phillip is one of many in a growing list of Australians who have died in the area."
What the!!! That shit sounds dangerous. Somebody tell the N.P.W.S.

Maybe the N.S.W. N.P.W.S. can arrest anyone that has ever lived in N.S.W. and makes it back from N.Z. in one piece...You know, the way the septics did with David Hicks ;)