17 Dec 2012

Police recover body from West Coast search area

4:27 pm on 17 December 2012

The body of a Christchurch man missing since October has been discovered in a West Coast river.

Ross Leslie Taylor's body was spotted by a helicopter on Sunday down a steep bluff in Kaka Creek, which is in the Mikonui River area, south of Ross.

Police believe Mr Taylor, 50, set out on a tramp on October 15 or 16.

He was last seen at the Explorer Hut on October 23 and his intention was to complete his tramp two days later on October 25.

He was reported overdue on November 6.

Formal identification of the body is yet to be completed, but police are confident it matches Mr Taylor's description.