A body believed to be that of missing Polish tramper Jacek Gryzbowski has been airlifted out of a forest park near Wellington this morning.
Police said the body was flown out of Rimutaka Forest Park by Westpac Rescue Helicopter to Wellington Hospital.
A formal identification will be made later today but Inspector Mike Wright believed the body was that of Mr Gryzbowski, 28.
Police said clothing on the body found in a stream in the park about 2pm yesterday appeared to match the description of clothes Mr Gryzbowski was wearing when he went missing a week ago on a planned day trip into park.
"We're delighted that we found Jacek," Mr Wright said. "We would have preferred to find him alive but sadly that wasn't to be." Two rescue teams were also airlifted from the park after a search Mr Wright said was challenging and demanding.
He said crews endured tough conditions last night, experiencing high winds, heavy rain, snow and hail showers.
Police, the Polish Ambassador and members of the Polish community will meet Mr Gryzbowski's family when they arrive in Wellington later today.
Mr Gryzbowski, a computer software engineer, arrived in Wellington in February on a working holiday and has spent most weekends exploring bush and coastal tracks in the Wellington region.
He was only equipped for a day tramp when he went into the Rimutaka park last Saturday.
