Climber Dies in New Zealand After Anchor Failure

Lauren Kimiyo Worrell died in a climbing accident at Castle Rock in the Coromandel on Aug. 19. Her family then made a call for climbers to be careful with permanent climbing gear.

The 28-year-old American lived in Auckland and had just finished her masters degree. She was an experienced rock climber.

Her family said she died Sunday while preparing to descend a 120-metre route at Castle Rock, near the town of Whitianga on New Zealand’s North Island.

The family said the death was still being investigated but they wanted to highlight the problem with relying on equipment on the rock face.

“This equipment will naturally be affected by UV rays and other elements of nature affecting its condition and reliability,” the family said.

The family also thanked the two climbers who attempted a rescue, the Kuaotunu Land Search and Rescue Team who assisted, members of the New Zealand Police, the US Consulate and friends in New Zealand.

“Kimi was one of a kind, a firecracker of positivity and enthusiasm who it was impossible not to smile around,” Said Richard Graham, Worrell’s boyfriend, on Facebook.

“I wish more than anything that I’d had the opportunity to spend more time with her, to see where life took us, but I’m so thankful for the time that we had.”

The local community is organizing a fund in Worrell’s memory, the proceeds of which will be used for the purpose of maintaining existing hardware and fixed lines in climbing areas around New Zealand.

You can donate to the fund here.