An English tourist has died from a suspected heart attack after walking to the Cradle Mountain summit.

It is believed the 51-year-old man was walking with a group when he fell ill yesterday.

He was treated by an off-duty paramedic and members of the group but attempts to save him were unsuccessful.

The rescue helicopter was unable to land because of bad weather so police hiked in and stayed with the body overnight.

Inspector Kim Steven says more officers will help bring the body down in the steep and difficult terrain.

"There'll be a number of areas where they'll have to lower the body in the stretcher over rocks and boulders and it's not just simply a carry."

"So there's a lot of rope work going to be involved in that first part of it as well, so it's quite a technical move that they're going to have to do.

"They train for this on regular occasions," he said.