Police have located a body during their search for a missing 23-year-old man in the Hokitika River. While formal identification is yet to take place, they believe the body is that of a man that failed to surface on Saturday. Police were first alerted to the emergency near Whitecombe Valley Rd yesterday about 12.50pm. It is believed the man fell from rocks while preparing to jump into the water at the Hokitika Gorge. A briefing was held at 8am today for the search team, which involves Search and Rescue personnel, DoC staffers and a jet boat.

Source: Otago Daily Times January 25, 2020 21:21 UTC