Welshman who had just become a dad dies on mountain trek 'Adventurous soul' and scientist Dr Peter Kirkwood, 33, was trekking with a colleague on an 8,200ft mountain in New Zealand when both men tragically died Dr Peter Kirkwood, from Cyncoed in Cardiff, had recently become a father (Image: Wales News Service) A new dad with an “adventurous soul” was killed with a colleague while trekking on an mountain in New Zealand. Geologist Dr Peter Kirkwood, 33, had travelled to the 8,200ft mountain for research with colleague Richard Phillips. The alarm was raised when one of the climbers made an emergency call to say the other had fallen. Both were found dead the next day.