Body could be missing Alzheimer's sufferer

Police believe the body which washed up near Wellington on Sunday is an Alzheimer's sufferer who went missing from Palmerston North in June.

Sergeant Bill Nicholson said a swollen Manawatu river would have made it possible for the body to travel more than 100km to Pukerua Bay, where it was found badly decomposed sandwiched in rocks, the Dominion Post reported today.

The body matched the description of Alzheimer's disease sufferer Jim Alexander, 73, who went missing from a Palmerston North rest home on June 25, he said.

However, conformation of his identity would take some time with dental records and DNA needed to be tested.

Police and volunteers spent more than 1000 hours looking for Mr Alexander. A psychic led police to his clothes.

- NZPA