Shirley Warrington's body was not found for two months after she went missing in July 2021. Photo: Supplied / NZ Police
An elderly Christchurch woman likely died from hypothermia on Christchurch's Port Hills, a day or so after she went missing, a coroner's report has found.
Shirley Warrington was last seen in Ferrymead in July 2021 after going for a drive with her husband. Both were in their 80s and had symptoms of dementia.
Their vehicle was seen on 10 July in Ferrymead with two occupants, and later that same night, with just one occupant.
In the early hours of 11 July, it was again seen with just one occupant.
Warrington's husband alerted his daughter later that morning that he did not know where his wife was.
He could not remember her leaving the car or where they were when she had left it, and a police search and rescue operation was launched.
Her body was found two months later in dense bush near the Bridal Path track in Heathcote.
An autopsy found Warrington died from probable hypothermia/environmental exposure, with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, obstructive lung disease, and possible dementia as contributing factors.
She had no identifiable injuries and a forensic pathologist determined she was likely to have died within a day or so of being reported missing.
A police investigation also found there were no suspicious circumstances relating to Warrington's death.
Her family made a complaint to the Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) regarding the search and rescue effort. The authority contacted her son to discuss his concerns and he acknowledged the explanation.
Coroner Heather McKenzie also found there was nothing suspicious about the circumstances of her disappearance and said an inquiry into her death was not warranted.