Saturday, 1 October 2011 - 3:37pm |
National News

Body recovered from below Maruia Falls

1 min read

The police dive squad recovered a body from the water at Maruia Falls about 3pm today believed to be Ian Oliver Randall who fell into the water yesterday afternoon.

Mr Randall, 39, was with a group of 34 people travelling from Christchurch to Nelson to watch a rugby match. They stopped at Maruia Falls, south of Murchison, about 5pm yesterday.

Three people from the party jumped over a security barrier and Mr Randall and one other then slipped down a bank. The other person managed to get to safety and Mr Randall was held by the arm for a short period before falling into the water.

His body will be taken to Nelson for formal identification.

Mr Randall has lived in New Zealand for four years but originally comes from England. He has family in New Zealand and England.

The search team included five members of the Police Dive Squad, three Land Search and Rescue teams, kayakers, a jet boat and a helicopter.

The matter has been referred to the coroner.

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