Search and Rescue teams have located a body on the banks of the Ashley River, in Canterbury, this afternoon. Snr Sgt Paul Reeves said that the body was discovered around 4pm while police were running a training exercise for Search and Rescue staff. A formal identification will now be carried out. Police were using the exercise as an opportunity to search for missing 20-year-old Emma Beattie, who went missing from the area in December. Over 100 participants were in volved in the search effort.

Source: Otago Daily Times March 24, 2018 07:52 UTC