The Westmorland GazetteNew Zealand-born man found dead on Helvellyn had come to Lakes 'to get some fresh air in a place that reminded him of his childhood home' (From The Westmorland Gazette)

New Zealand-born man found dead on Helvellyn had come to Lakes 'to get some fresh air in a place that reminded him of his childhood home'

A body that has been found on a Cumbrian Mountain is that of Michael Flanagan, the Head of Foreign Exchange Insitutional Sales at National Australia Bank.

Flanagan had been at the firm for over seven years, having previously worked for HSBC as an Associate Director, and for the Royal Bank of Scotland as a Treasury Analyst.

BBC News reports that Flanagan told staff at a hotel in the Windermere area he intended to walk up Helvellyn on 8 January.

The 45-year-old from London was not heard from again and a search involving mountain rescue teams and a Royal Navy helicopter was launched. A spokesman for Cumbria police said there were no suspicious circumstances around his death, and a coroner has been informed.

A spokesperson for NAB said: 'Many people would have known Mike and his big personality. He will be very sorely missed by those who worked closely with him and also all those touched by his presence within our business. The thoughts of all Mike's colleagues and friends here at NAB are with his family at this tragic time.'

Helvellyn body confirmed as Michael Flanagan


http://hereisthecity.com/en-gb/2015/01/15/foreign-exchange-head-found-dead-on-cumbrian-mountain/

New Zealand expat dies on British mountain

Published: 22 Jan at 10 AM

A New Zealand expat in the UK has been found dead on a mountain after being missing for several days.

Michael Flanagan, originally from Napier in New Zealand, told hotel staff in Windermere, around 130kms north of Manchester, he was going for a walk two weeks ago and never returned.

Cumbria Police confirmed they had found Mr Flanagan’s body on the mountain of Helvellyn on Monday. Hotel employees said that he had spoken of his plans to climb the mountain while on holiday in the northwestern region.

The New Zealander, 45, had lived in London with his wife and son for some years, working for the National Australia Bank as head of its foreign exchange institutional sales. After being reported missing, a 60-man search and rescue team was sent out to locate him.

He was eventually located at the bottom of the Helvellyn’s headwall and pronounced dead after being carried back down the mountain. A Cumbrian police spokesman said the death had been transferred to the coroner after they ruled that there were no suspicious circumstances.

Mr Flanagan attended Napier Boys’ High School when he was a child. After moving to the UK he initially worked for HSBC and then the Royal Bank of Scotland before taking up his position with the National Australia Bank.

- See more at: http://www.expatsblog.com/news/2201156436/missing-new-zealand-expat-confirmed-dead-in-cumbria#sthash.ARhg3lPo.dpuf

http://www.expatsblog.com/news/2201156436/missing-new-zealand-expat-confirmed-dead-in-cumbria

First published Thursday 22 January 2015 in News . by Katie Dickinson


THE family of a man found dead on Helvellyn last week are planning to make a 'significant contribution' to the mountain rescue team who organised the search for him.

Patterdale MRT co-ordinated the two-day hunt for Michael Flanagan, which at its height involved four mountain rescue teams, search dogs and an RAF helicopter.

New Zealand-born Mr Flanagan had come to the Lake District “to get some fresh air in a place that reminded him of his childhood home”, according to a friend.

Mr Flanagan’s best friend Roger Hart said he had taken a few days off work but “alarm bells rang with the family” when he failed to come home on Sunday January 11.

Mr Hart, who has known Mr Flanagan for 14 years, drove to the Lake District on the Monday morning to help in the search, but he was too late - search and rescue teams had found his friend's body that morning.

Mr Flanagan was the head of the foreign exchange desk at the National Australia Bank. He grew up in Napier on the north island of New Zealand and had lived in London for about 10 years.

He is survived by his wife Sarah and seven-year-old son William.

Mr Hart said: "He was a true gentleman who touched so many people with his character and his presence.

"There have been a lot of people saying how during this sad time we are comforted by memories of his kindness and generosity.

"He was a big man, the life of the party."

Mr Hart added: "It was a tragic accident that has shocked us all."

http://www.thewestmorlandgazette.co.uk/news/11743341.New_Zealand_born_man_found_dead_on_Helvellyn_had_come_to_Lakes__to_get_some_fresh_air_in_a_place_that_reminded_him_of_his_childhood_home_/