By Dave Goosselink
Work colleagues of a Dunedin woman who died in a climbing accident in Fiordland are shocked that her hobby ended her life.
Lynne Osborne fell down a very steep ridge on Monday, but a four-person alpine team had to wait for calmer weather to recover her body.
The spectacular but rugged ridges of Mitre Peak proved fatal Ms Osborne, who died after falling 200m.
Her body was recovered by a specialist alpine team, flown in on the end of a long line.
"A very long, long line, about 250ft into a very tight gut, quite steep side walls on both sides," says Aaron Halstead, Queenstown Alpine Cliff Rescue.
In a three-hour operation, her body was removed from a precarious position on the northeastern ridge and airlifted to Invercargill.
Former colleagues at the Mosgiel benchtop manufacturer where Ms Osborne worked as an HR advisor say they will miss her positive attitude.
"The news is quite a shock to us all," says Michael Burwood, O'Brien Group business manager. "Lynne was a well-known member of our team, being in an HR role. Everybody knows her and she's well-liked and respected."
Climbing was a more recent hobby, but workmates say she was keen on fitness and on motivating others.
"Absolutely, she was a real keen cyclist and involved us in the national Bikewise challenge recently which we won a couple of awards for," says Mr Burwood.
Despite Ms Osborne's limited mountaineering background, her climbing companion was very experienced. He was airlifted out safely on Monday, but his name hasn't been released.
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