New Zealand / Hawke's Bay

Body of tramper swept down Hawke's Bay river recovered

12:20 pm on 2 June 2020

The body of a tramper who was swept down a river in the Ruahine Forest Park has been recovered.

Yesterday afternoon, police received a call from the man's companion saying he had got into trouble while crossing the Makaroro River, near the bottom of Gold Creek Ridge track.

Police said high river levels and weather conditions meant the search had to be delayed until this morning.

The man's body was found this morning with the assistance of a Fire and Emergency New Zealand drone.

LandSAR volunteers and Hawke's Bay Surf life savers also helped with the search.