The search for a missing elderly Wellington woman has been
suspended after a body was found at a popular beach in the
city.
Police would not confirm the body was that of Edna Mae Cairns
until a post-mortem examination was carried out.
But it's understood the search for the 74-year-old, last seen
at her Karori home on Monday, has been suspended.
This afternoon police were called to Scorching Bayon on the
Miramar Peninsula about 2pm after a member of the public
found the body, Detective Inspector Paul Basham said.
The police national dive squad and the Wellington police
maritime unit were conducting a shoreline search near where
the body was found.
"At this stage we are treating this death as unexplained
until a post-mortem examination is carried out tomorrow.''
A couple of young women were climbing around the rocks at the
north end of the beach minutes before the body was found.
Danica Burghout, 19, said she and her friend had just
returned to the beach when a fire engine, ambulance and
police cars went past.
She could not believe she had not spotted the body just
minutes earlier.
"It's pretty scary, I can't believe we were right there.''
An empty white utility vehicle had been parked at the top of
the rocks, but had since been removed, Ms Burghout said.
A cordon had been placed around the north end of the beach,
preventing traffic from travelling around Miramar Peninsula.
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