This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-48606193
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 1 | Version 2 |
---|---|
Body found in search for British hiker in New Zealand | Body found in search for British hiker in New Zealand |
(30 minutes later) | |
Rescue teams searching for a British hiker who went missing in New Zealand nearly two weeks ago have found his body, police say. | |
Darren Myers, 49, went missing while trekking in Tararua Range in the country's North Island. | Darren Myers, 49, went missing while trekking in Tararua Range in the country's North Island. |
An 11-day search ended on Wednesday when a rescue helicopter spotted a body at the bottom of a remote waterfall. | An 11-day search ended on Wednesday when a rescue helicopter spotted a body at the bottom of a remote waterfall. |
Mr Myers' brother-in-law said it was a relief that he appeared to have died suddenly, rather than waiting in pain. | |
Speaking to Radio New Zealand, Duncan Styles said: "One of the hardest things we've had to bear with, was thinking he's up there, and alive, and waving at a helicopter, potentially, and not being seen, and being in pain and distress. | |
"To know that he's not been able to respond for the last few days is actually really good relief". | |
Mr Myers' wife, Kim, is too upset to speak about it, he said. | |
'Poor visibility' | 'Poor visibility' |
Mr Myers, who had recently moved to New Zealand from the UK, had been hiking the Tararua Northern Crossing, a popular trek that can take up to five days. | |
He sent a text to his wife on 30 May - police now believe he died later that day. | |
Police search and rescue incident controller Sergeant Tony Matheson said the weather conditions were particularly bad, with wind gusts of up to 145km/h, very poor visibility and rain. | Police search and rescue incident controller Sergeant Tony Matheson said the weather conditions were particularly bad, with wind gusts of up to 145km/h, very poor visibility and rain. |
"It happened very suddenly. I don't think he suffered at all," he told Radio New Zealand. | "It happened very suddenly. I don't think he suffered at all," he told Radio New Zealand. |
"The conditions were just about as bad as you can get up there," he added. | "The conditions were just about as bad as you can get up there," he added. |