A 53-year-old Australian man, who was a police officer in Victoria, died after falling 300 meters into a ravine while hiking the Inca Trail toward Machu Picchu, a famous UNESCO World Heritage site in Peru. Local authorities are urgently investigating the cause of the accident near the site.
Mountain police and rescue teams in Cusco, Peru, reported progress on the Inca Trail hiking accident. They discovered the body of 53-year-old Australian tourist Matthew Cameron Patton at the bottom of a steep 300-meter ravine near a section called "50 Gradas" (50 Steps).
Virgilio Velasquez, regional police commander of Cusco, stated that Patton and his wife arrived in Cusco about 12 days before starting their four-day hike to Machu Picchu. Initial reports indicate that on Wednesday afternoon local time, Patton was hiking with a group of tourists and guides when he stumbled while crossing a wooden bridge.
"Our information shows he appeared to trip while crossing the wooden bridge and tried to grab the railing, but the railing broke under his weight, causing him to slip and fall into the deep ravine along with the railing. Unfortunately, the ravine was very deep," he explained.
The accident site is a steep, difficult-to-access cliff. Local media TVPeru Noticias reported there is no phone signal in the area, so officials had to communicate via radio. After recovering the body, it will be moved to Machu Picchu Pueblo, the gateway town near the ancient Inca fortress, then forwarded to Urubamba for autopsy and to determine the exact cause of the fall.
Upon receiving the tragic news, the Victoria Police in Australia shared a statement from Patton's family, saying everyone is "heartbroken" and feels the incident is unreal.
The Victoria Police Association added that all officers and members are deeply shocked and saddened by the loss. They noted Patton played a vital role as a trainer for new police recruits and served as an assistant representative of the association, reflecting his care and commitment to his colleagues.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said the department is closely providing consular assistance to the family of the deceased in Peru and expressed sincere condolences during this difficult time.
The Inca Trail is a 43-kilometer hiking route through the Andes Mountains, following ancient paths carved by the Inca toward the ancient city of Machu Picchu. It is a world-famous trail with a daily limit of 500 hikers, often requiring booking up to six months in advance.