DNA may identify limbless, headless body

File photo / NZ Herald

Police are likely to use DNA in an effort to identify a limbless, headless body found on the coast near Raglan, west of Hamilton yesterday.

The naked man's body without a head, feet and hands was found by an overseas tourist.

Police said they were unsure if the head and limbs had been removed, or simply come off in the water.

A post-mortem examination will be carried out on the body today.

Police said they were investigating the possibility the remains were of a diver who disappeared on November 7.

Te Awamutu father-of-four John Lindsay, 36, was never found after he went missing during a dive with friends and family at Gannet Island, a popular diving spot 19km off Raglan.

He was wearing a full wetsuit and police said if the body found yesterday was the diver, they were unsure how it came to be naked.

- NZPA