Police find man’s body in Pelorus River

Police divers found the body of a man in the Pelorus River in Marlborough this afternoon.

Constable Beau Webster of Blenheim police said positive identification of the body found downstream from the Pelorus Bridge was yet to confirmed.

Concern for the safety of Joseph Frederick Knowles, 47, of Christchurch, who had not been seen since Monday prompted Blenheim to call in the police national dive squad, from Wellington, who began to search the river this morning.

Mr Knowles is known to have arrived at Pelorus Bridge Camp by bus last Wednesday, pitching his small tent and intending to stay for 12 days.

He was last seen buying an ice cream at Pelorus Bridge Tearooms on Monday afternoon.

Many of his personal belongings, including passport and bank cards, were found in his tent.

Mr Knowles, an Australian who had lived in New Zealand for some years, was not married.

His immediate family, who were in New Zealand, had been told of his disappearance.

- NZPA