7 Nov 2015

Coroner in Tasmania rules on NZer who disappeared

10:48 pm on 7 November 2015

A coroner in Tasmania has found a New Zealand bushwalker who went missing 45 years ago probably died near Mt Ossa, the state's highest peak.

Mt Ossa, Tasmania's highest peak

Mt Ossa, Tasmania's highest peak Photo: 123RF

Dan Kokholm, who was 24, was due to leave for military service in Vietnam and was holidaying in Tasmania when he disappeared in April 1970.

Coroner Simon Cooper said the lack of a full search at the time was influenced by the wholly baseless police view that Mr Kokholm was avoiding going to Vietnam.

He said no searches of the area were made until months after his disappearance.