Body confirmed as missing tramper's

The body of a man recovered from a creek in the Mikonui River area, south of Ross on the West Coast, has been confirmed as that of 50-year-old Christchurch man Rex Leslie Taylor.

It was found at the bottom of a steep cliff at Kaka Creek on December 17 and confirmed as Mr Taylor by a coroner two days later.

West Coast search and rescue co-ordinator Sergeant Sean Judd said the preliminary finding was that Mr Taylor had died from trauma following a large fall.

His family had been notified.

Police went into the area to recover the body after a helicopter spotted clothing and a pack on December 16.

Mr Taylor's last known whereabouts were at Explorer Hut on October 23, where he left a note in the intention book stating that he planned to complete his tramp by October 26.

He was reported overdue on November 6.

- By Ben Aulakh of the Westport News

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