Police say the preliminary findings of a post-mortem confirm that Lucas Ward, the Gisborne boy whose body was found in a river this week, died by drowning.
Lucas went missing on Tuesday 16 August from his grandmother's home on the Waimata River. His body was found 400 metres upstream 10 days later.
Police say a pathologist's report indicates death by drowning. The full report will be referred to the coroner.
Lucas will be buried in Ruatoria on Tuesday morning.
