Matthew Paton, 52, fell into a ravine near Machu Picchu while hiking with his wife during a long-planned trip to Peru.
CUSCO, Peru — An Australian police officer died after falling nearly 1,000 feet into a ravine while hiking the Inca Trail near Machu Picchu with his wife this week, authorities said, ending a yearslong dream trip that family members said he had carefully planned and eagerly anticipated.
Peruvian rescue crews recovered the body of Sgt. Matthew Cameron Paton, 52, on Thursday after an overnight search in difficult mountain terrain near the “50 Gradas” section of the historic trail system. Officials said Paton had been trekking with a tour group during a four-day hike when he apparently lost his footing while crossing a wooden bridge. The incident prompted investigations by local authorities and an outpouring of tributes from Victoria Police colleagues, friends and family members in Australia, where Paton was preparing to begin a new senior sergeant role next month.
Authorities said the fall happened Wednesday afternoon local time near the Wiñaywayna-Intipunku segment of the Inca Trail, a steep and heavily traveled route leading toward Machu Picchu’s Sun Gate entrance. Cusco Police Region Chief Virgilio Velasquez told reporters that investigators believe Paton tripped while crossing a wooden bridge and grabbed a railing that then gave way. “Unfortunately, he fell down the ravine,” Velasquez said during a media briefing. Search teams from Peru’s High Mountain Rescue Unit spent hours combing the rugged mountainside before locating Paton’s body at the bottom of a deep embankment the following day. Television footage from Peru showed rescuers using ropes and climbing equipment while maneuvering through foggy and rocky terrain. Officials said Paton and his wife, Jane, had arrived in Peru nearly two weeks earlier and joined a guided group excursion on the famous trekking route.
Victoria Police confirmed Paton’s death in a statement released after Australian authorities were notified by Peruvian officials. The agency said it was working with Paton’s wife and relatives, several of whom were traveling from Australia to Peru after the accident. Paton joined Victoria Police in 2009 and worked at police stations in Cranbourne and Rosebud before becoming an instructor at the Victoria Police Academy in 2017. Colleagues said he helped train recruits and later worked on programs involving police responses to mental health incidents. Chief Commissioner Mike Bush said officers across the department were “devastated at the tragic loss of a wonderful, caring person.” Bush said Paton was widely respected for his ability to connect with people from different backgrounds and for prioritizing the morale of younger officers. Officials said Paton had recently accepted a promotion and was scheduled to begin serving as a senior sergeant in June. Police representatives described him as a mentor who remained closely involved with recruit training and workplace support initiatives.
The section of the Inca Trail where Paton fell is known among hikers for its steep stone stairways and narrow passages that wind through mountainous terrain above the Urubamba River valley. Travel guides often refer to part of the route as the “monkey steps” because hikers sometimes use their hands while climbing uneven sections near the Sun Gate approach. The trail, which stretches about 26 miles through the Andes Mountains, draws thousands of tourists every year and is considered one of South America’s most famous trekking destinations. Rescue operations in the region are frequently complicated by high altitude, unstable footing and rapidly changing weather conditions. Peruvian authorities did not immediately say whether the bridge railing involved in the accident had previous safety concerns or whether maintenance inspections had recently been conducted. Officials also did not release detailed findings about weather conditions at the time of the fall. The incident renewed attention on the challenges rescue crews face in remote areas surrounding Machu Picchu, where helicopter access can be limited by terrain and visibility.
Australian officials said the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade was providing consular assistance to Paton’s family while Peruvian authorities continued their investigation into the circumstances surrounding the accident. Victoria Police said support services were also being made available to officers and academy staff affected by the news. No indication of criminal wrongdoing has been reported, and officials have treated the case as a fatal accident investigation. Peruvian authorities are expected to complete a formal incident report after interviews with witnesses, guides and members of the hiking group are finalized. Local police have not announced whether additional safety reviews of the trail infrastructure will follow. In Australia, tributes continued to emerge from current and former officers who worked with Paton during his 16 years in policing. The Police Association of Victoria praised his dedication to training younger officers and said his work reflected “care and concern” for colleagues throughout the force. Family members described him as someone who routinely stopped to help strangers and who remained deeply committed to his wife and three children.
Relatives said Paton had dreamed of visiting Peru for years and even learned Spanish in his 30s as part of his preparation for the trip. In a family statement released through Victoria Police, relatives said, “He was always up for an adventure and to learn something and to experience something new.” Friends and colleagues described him as witty, compassionate and deeply loyal to the people around him. Several officers recalled Paton encouraging younger recruits during difficult training exercises and checking in with coworkers after stressful incidents. Former colleagues said he balanced a calm demeanor with a sharp sense of humor that often eased tension inside police stations and classrooms. Social media posts from Australian police organizations and local community groups described widespread shock over the sudden death. By Friday, messages of condolence had spread across police networks in Victoria as officers remembered Paton not only as a respected trainer but also as a husband, father and longtime public servant whose final trip was meant to celebrate a lifelong goal.
Authorities in Peru said the investigation remains ongoing as officials complete witness interviews and recovery documentation connected to the fatal fall. Victoria Police said support for Paton’s family and colleagues will continue in the coming days while arrangements are made to return his body to Australia.