By Luke Cooper and Andi Yu, ABC
The 15th century Inca citadel Machu Picchu in the Andes Mountains in Peru.
Photo: 123RF
An Australian man has died in Peru after falling from an embankment while walking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu.
Matthew Cameron Paton was walking in a group of tourists about 2pm on Wednesday, local time, when he tripped and fell through a damaged security barrier, local police told the ABC.
The 52-year-old Victorian Police officer is believed to have fallen up to 400 metres in a difficult-to-access area near the Intipunku entrance to the Inca Trail, police say.
He had been reported missing on Wednesday, according to an alert issued by Lieutenant Abel Bejarano Cuyotupac, the police commissioner of Machu Picchu.
Paton’s body was found and retrieved on Thursday, local time, and transported to the Aguas Calientes township, known locally as the Machu Picchu pueblo.
High altitude rescuers were called to the scene of the Australian man’s fall on the Inca Trail.
Photo: Supplied: Región Policial Cusco
Authorities, who have contacted the Australian Embassy in Peru, expect to transport his body to the Peruvian city of Cusco in coming hours.
Paton had been travelling in Peru with his wife, officials said.
In a statement, his family said they were “shattered” by his death.
Paton was a “career military man”, accountant, black belt in karate, had studied Spanish and “loved being an educator”, the family said.
“Family was the most important thing to Matt. He was dedicated to his family including his wife of 31 years and their three children. He adored his family. And we adored him,” the statement said.
“If you were in trouble he was the guy you wanted to have around because he would come to your aid. He was the guy who stopped on the side of the road to help people change tyres.
“He wanted to have a career where he was doing something that he could be proud of which is why he joined Victoria Police later in life.
“He loved his colleagues and had a great rapport. He was a funny guy. He was witty, he was clever. He would spin an anecdote better than anyone.”
Local authorities say the Australian man was believed to have fallen through a damaged security barrier.
Photo: Supplied: Región Policial Cusco
Paton’s family also said he had “always wanted to travel to Peru” and learned Spanish to help with his trip to Machu Picchu.
“He was always up for an adventure and to learn something and to experience something new,” the statement said.
Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Mike Bush said that Sergeant Paton had “served with distinction for 16 years”.
“His colleagues and the entire policing family are devastated at the tragic loss of a wonderful, caring person,” Commissioner Bush said.
“Matt had the ability to talk to anyone and everyone. The morale and welfare of his friends and workmates was always his priority.
“He will be remembered for his selflessness, amazing sense of humour, extreme kindness and inclusion of all.”
Peruvian police say the area surrounding where the Australian man fell exists in a difficult-to-access part of the Inca Trail.
Photo: Supplied: Región Policial Cusco
The Police Association of Victoria also said its staff and members had been left shocked and saddened by Sergeant Paton’s death.
“Matt’s contribution to policing, through both his role in training police and as a TPAV Assistant Delegate, was representative of the care and concern he had for his colleagues and his want to give back to policing,” a statement said.
“We’ve offered our heartfelt condolences to Matt’s family and our welfare team is working with Victoria Police to provide them support.”
Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) has been contacted for further comment.
Where is Peru’s Inca Trail?
The Inca Trail is a 42-kilometre hiking trail that winds through the Peruvian mountains to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Machu Picchu historical site.
More than 1.6 million people – 4,300 per day – visit the site each year, though a flexible cap of 500 hikers per day is in place for the Inca Trail.
The ancient Incan city was closed entirely in 2023 amid nationwide protests that led to dozens of deaths and injuries.
Last year, two trains collided on the railway that connects Machu Picchu to the outskirts of Cusco, killing a driver and injuring at least 30 tourists.
-ABC