Help needed to identify foot found on beach

Police are appealing for public help in identifying the foot found on Himitangi Beach near Foxton.

Yesterday they ruled out any connection between the foot and the mutilated corpse of a man found on Wellington's south coast on Saturday.

Palmerston North detective Ashley Gurney said today the foot was found by a Foxton man who was out for a walk with his dog on Saturday morning and saw a sneaker on the beach.

"When he inspected it he made the grisly find," Mr Gurney told National Radio.

The limb, which is believed to be the left foot of a man, was encased in a "Skechers" brand dark blue sneaker and was wearing a black ankle sock. The sneaker had Velcro straps.

Mr Gurney hopes that some family member might recognise the description of the shoe and come forward.

"Not all missing persons are automatically reported to the police," he said.

If that did not bring anyone forward, police would liaise with a pathologist to inspect the foot and try to get some detail off it that could be used to link it to somebody they may already have details about.

He said the condition of the foot suggested it had been in the water for some time and it appeared to have been detached by being pulled apart rather than sheared off by an act of violence.

Given the recent bad weather, it was possible the foot had come from anywhere on the west coast of the North Island.

Police want anyone who thinks they might be able to help with the identification to contact them.

- NZPA