Australian Police Sergeant Dies After 400m Fall on Machu Picchu Trail in Peru

An Australian police sergeant who died while hiking to Machu Picchu in Peru has been remembered as a devoted family man, respected police educator and lifelong adventurer after a fatal fall on the Inca Trail.

Matthew Paton, 52, was on holiday in Peru with his wife Jane when the accident happened on Wednesday afternoon local time. The Victoria Police sergeant was walking with a group of tourists near the Intipunku entrance, also known as the Sun Gate, when he reportedly tripped and fell through a damaged safety barrier.

Local police told ABC News that Paton fell up to 400 metres in a difficult-to-reach section of the route. The area forms part of the famous trail that leads hikers through the Andes toward the ancient Incan citadel of Machu Picchu.

Paton was reported missing after the incident, prompting a search by local authorities and high-altitude rescue teams. His body was later found and recovered on Thursday local time before being taken to Aguas Calientes, the town below Machu Picchu. Authorities were expected to transfer him to Cusco as consular arrangements continued.

Victoria Police confirmed Paton’s death and said the force was supporting his wife and family. Relatives were also travelling to Peru from Australia following the tragedy.

Paton joined Victoria Police in 2009 and served for 16 years. He first worked at Cranbourne and Rosebud police stations before moving into training at the Victoria Police Academy in 2017. His later roles included helping train officers who respond to mental health-related incidents.

Police said he had recently been selected for promotion to senior sergeant and was due to begin the new role next month. Chief Commissioner Mike Bush said Paton had served with distinction and would be remembered for his selflessness, warmth and humour.

“His colleagues and the entire policing family are devastated at the tragic loss of a wonderful, caring person,” Bush said.

Paton’s family described him as a “career military man”, accountant, black belt in karate and educator who loved learning, travel and new cultures. They said he had studied Spanish before the Peru trip and had long wanted to visit Machu Picchu.

“Family was the most important thing to Matt,” the family said. “He was dedicated to his family including his wife of 31 years and their three children. He adored his family. And we adored him.”

They also remembered him as someone who naturally stepped in when others needed help, saying he was the kind of person who would stop on the side of the road to help strangers change tyres.

The Police Association of Victoria said its members were shocked and saddened by the death, noting Paton’s work in police training and his role as an assistant delegate. The association said its welfare team was working with Victoria Police to support those affected.

Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said it was providing consular assistance to Paton’s family and offered condolences.

The Inca Trail is a 42-kilometre route through Peru’s mountain landscape and is one of the most recognised hikes in South America. It leads to Machu Picchu, a UNESCO World Heritage-listed site visited by more than 1.6 million people a year. The trail itself has daily limits on hikers, with permits used to control access and protect the historic route.

While the trek is popular with international visitors, parts of the route are remote, narrow and exposed. The incident has drawn renewed attention to safety at major tourist destinations, particularly where steep terrain, damaged barriers and limited rescue access can quickly turn an accident into a fatal emergency.

Swikblog recently reported another travel safety tragedy after a tourist drowned at Indijup Natural Spa near Yallingup, showing how scenic destinations can carry serious risks when visitors face powerful natural conditions or unsafe surroundings.

For Paton’s colleagues and family, the loss is deeply personal. He was a husband, father, mentor and public servant whose final journey was tied to a place he had dreamed of seeing. Peruvian authorities are continuing to examine the circumstances surrounding the fall.

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