KEY POINTS:
A pathologist's examination has given police fresh clues to the owner of a human foot that washed up on a Christchurch beach at the weekend.
The foot encased in an ankle sock was found by a policewoman walking her dog on Sumner Beach early on Sunday morning.
Analysis by Christchurch pathologist Martin Sage has determined the foot is probably from a male Caucasian, who wore size eight or nine shoes and kept his toenails well maintained.
Constable Steve Johnstone, of Christchurch police, said today it appeared the foot had been in the water for "weeks or months depending on the depth of water it was in before resurfacing".
He said the foot appeared to have separated from the body at the ankle joint and showed no signs of cuts or a fracture.
Dr Sage would now x-ray the foot, take a sample for DNA analysis and have it preserved.
"We've narrowed it down to a foot size now and possible race and length of time in the water," Mr Johnstone said.
"So we know how far back to trawl through our missing persons files. We're still working through that."
Results from the DNA analysis could take between six to eight weeks, he said.
- NZPA
