Body of German tourist found

Searchers have found the body of a German tourist swept away while trying to cross a flooded creek in Fiordland yesterday.

The 23-year-old German woman and her male Canadian tramping companion had tried to cross Mistake Creek at about 1pm.

Although the man managed to get to safety, the woman was swept away by the current.

The man raised the alarm about 6pm after walking out and searchers combed the area until dark last night.

Resuming the search today, the woman's body was found about 10am on the riverbank by an aerial search about 1km from where she attempted to cross the creek, Sergeant Peter Payne of Te Anau.

He said the death was tragic and should not have happened. "The guys who have been searching today said even with the river down today they would still not even attempt to cross where they attempted to cross yesterday," he told NZPA.

"If they'd stayed put they could have crossed at the normal track crossing today."

An autopsy would be carried out and the death had been referred to the coroner.

The woman's name would not be released until her next of kin had been informed.

Mr Payne said the Canadian tramper was not the woman's partner -- they had met in New Zealand some weeks prior to the tramp.

The woman was not the only person to die in the area yesterday -- a 75-year-old Australian man collapsed and died while walking the Milford Track.

- NZPA