The 87-year-old farmer whose body was found after his dog led searchers to the place where he had slipped and fallen in steep bush has been named as Bradford Topp.
Mr Topp was last seen alive about 1pm on Monday when it is thought he went to check his water supply up a steep bush stream. He was accompanied by a dog which followed him everywhere on the Topps Access Rd farm just south of Kaeo.
Family, friends and neighbours began a search when neither Mr Topp nor the dog returned. They called police when there was still no sign of the pair by 8pm.
Police and Far North Land SAR volunteers searched through the night, only stopping when the combination of fog and extremely rugged terrain made it too dangerous.
Mr Topp was found around noon on Tuesday when a searcher spotted his dog, which then led the team to his body a short distance away.
