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British woman, 37, who fell to her death in New Zealand mountains is named

Emma Langley died in a mountain fall in New Zealand (Picture: SWNS)
Emma Langley died in a mountain fall in New Zealand (Picture: SWNS)

A British woman who plunged to her death on a mountain in New Zealand has been named as 37-year-old Emma Langley.

The climber fell when ascending Mount Ruapehu, an active volcano, last Saturday.

Police confirmed Langley’s identity and said she "slipped and fell down a slope", adding one of her party had rushed to her aid.

A helicopter was dispatched but due to strong winds it was unable to land and a ground rescue team was deployed to find her.

It took the rescue team five hours to reach her, and she was then taken to Tukino Lodge sports club but was pronounced dead.

Langley, from Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, and her group of nine had been climbing the eastern side of the mountain, crossing terrain known as Cathedral Rocks.

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Tongariro national park, New Zealand: a view of the  Mount Ruapehu (volcano). Mount Ruapehu and Mount Ngauruhoe are two of the most active composite volcanoes in the world, with Mount Ruapehu last erupting in 1996 and Mount Ngauruhoe in 1975.
Emma Langley fell when ascending Mount Ruapehu, an active volcano (Picture: Getty)

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In a statement, police senior constable Barry Shepherd said: "This is an absolutely tragic event for the woman who has died, her family and friends, and her climbing companions.

"Many in the group were relatively new climbers, but they were well-prepared and while the weather changed throughout the day, when they set off the conditions were suitable.

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"While this was not the outcome anyone wanted, I want to acknowledge the bravery of those in the group who climbed down over a number of hours to assist her, as well as two other climbers who came across the scene and stopped to help.

"I also want to thank all the LandSAR [search and rescue] men and women who worked tirelessly through the afternoon and well into the night, in absolutely shocking weather, to return the deceased to her family and rescue the rest of the group off the mountain."

Police have asked for her family's privacy to be respected.