Steve Turner, 50, was climbing Mt Barney with two others on Saturday when he fell 300m down a cliff face called The Governor on Mt Barney, 90km southwest of Brisbane.

Emergency services located Mr Turner’s body on Saturday night but were unable to retrieve it until Sunday night due to the terrain.

The two other climbers, in their 30s, raised the alarm and were flown to safety just after 5pm.

Fellow climber Henk Morgans told ABC Mr Turner had decades of experience of climbing under his belt.

He said the death had shaken the small and close-knit southeast Queensland climbing community.

“No matter what it is, a small accident or an incident or a tragedy, it really affects our little group of friends and we’re virtually a family so at this time we kind of come together and try and be supportive and lend a hand where we can,” Mr Morgans said.

Acting Inspector Warren Parker said three experienced climbers were descending down the summit of Mt Barney when the fall took place.

Mr Turner “somehow came detached from the climbing rope and has fallen a significant distance some 300-400m and has fallen to his death,” Insp Parker said, according to the Courier Mail.

On Facebook, members of the South East Queensland Rock Climbing Group paid tribute to Mr Turner, with many sharing stories about the experienced climber’s feats.