A post mortem on the body of 19-year-old Auckland student Cem Erbay indicates injuries he probably suffered during a fall, combined with his heart condition, were the major contributors to his death.
Mr Erbay disappeared from his friends about 4am on January 1 from the north end of Simpsons Beach, about 20km south of Matarangi, and his body was found in thick undergrowth near the Matarangi shopping centre.
Detective Senior Sergeant Mark Greene said the preliminary findings of the post mortem were that his death was not suspicious.
"The pathologist reports that Cem suffered a number of injuries, most likely in a fall and that these, combined with his heart condition, were the major contributors in his death."
Police would not give further details about the nature of Mr Erbay's injuries until his family had been spoken to.
The last reported sighting of Mr Erbay was about 10am on New Year's Day at an area called the Duck Pond, close to where his body was found, and a short time earlier at a Matarangi shop, where he bought a packet of Mallowpuffs and two drinks.
There was also another likely sighting at 7am in Matarangi.
The terrain between Simpsons Beach and Matarangi was rugged, and Mr Erbay was not wearing shoes, so it was likely someone had given him a ride there, though it was possible he had walked.
Police appealed to anyone who gave Mr Erbay a ride or who saw him between Matarangi and Simpsons Beach to contact them.
"The reason we keep reiterating this is it's a transient population up and down the Coromandel this time of year and a lot of people have been camping or out of radio contact or not watching the news," Mr McAlley said.
Mr Erbay's heart condition made it dangerous for him to over-exert himself and he could have become disorientated and confused.
Mr Erbay was the stepson of Radio New Zealand's new Morning Report host Simon Mercep.
