Body of missing tramper Darren Myers found in Tararua Range

Wednesday, 12 June 2019

An Air Force NH90 arrives back at Masterton search headquarters on Wednesday morning after transporting a team in from the search for Darren Myers in the Tararua Range.

Searchers believe the tramper missing in the Tararua Range for 11 days died soon after sending his final communication to his wife.

The body of Darren Myers, 49, was found at the bottom of a waterfall in 'hazardous' terrain on Wednesday not far from his last known location.

Police search and rescue incident controller Tony Matheson said the body was spotted by a helicopter at about 9.30am at the headwaters of Arete Stream.

A team was airlifted in around noon on Wednesday and then lowered one-by-one to the site to retrieve the body.

The body of Darren Myers has been found, almost two weeks after the tramper went missing in the Tararua Range.

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Matheson said it appeared that Myers had died from injuries sustained in a fall the day of his last communication to his wife on Thursday, May 30.

'There's evidence of him having had a significant fall and he's died very suddenly.'

Though the body had not yet been formally identified they were confident it was Myers judging from his clothing and circumstances, Matheson said.

Arete Stream begins near the Arete Bivvy where Myers was last heard from.

Matheson said searchers had been close to the site in recent operations.

'The search teams had been within 50 metres of where his body was found over the last couple of days but had to turn around because it (the territory) was so difficult.'

Myers' family were at search headquarters at Masterton's Hood Aerodrome when police announced he had been found.

Brother-in-law Duncan Styles said they were 'so gutted' to hear Myers had not survived but were grateful to have found him.

'We are so grateful that it appears he hasn't suffered, that he hasn't been waiting for days and days out there to be found. We're incredibly grateful to all the teams that have been out there looking for him.'

Darren Myers' wife Kim Shaw, centre, supported by her sister and brother-in-law Debbie and Duncan Styles,were at search headquarters almost every day since the search began on Sunday, June 2.

Matheson said finding Myers would provide closure. It had been a lengthy search and it was difficult for all involved.

The search of the ridges where Darren Myers was tramping has been hampered by bad weather.

The Amalgamated Helicopters chopper which located the tramper.

Search and rescue staff carry a stretcher to a helicopter for the retrieval of Darren Myers' body.

The location where the body of Darren Myers was found, on Arete Stream in the Tararua Range.

Search and rescue manager David Eaton said it had been one of the largest searches of the range, with 75 instances of a team or helicopter taking a trip into the mountains.

There were only two days of weather clear enough for an effective search, he said. A team had to be pulled from the ridges on Tuesday due to the conditions.

'The searchers were very relieved to get a result, all the searchers are quite emotional.'

Myers started his tramp on Tuesday, May 28, with the intention of hiking across the Northern Crossing to Mt Holdsworth base in Carterton district.

When he failed to emerge the following Saturday a search began on Sunday, June 2.