Police looking for Rotorua man's next of kin

An unclaimed body has Rotorua police baffled.

They have been unable to find any relatives of 50-year-old Lindsay Mark Pedlar who died unexpectedly on August 18.

A week later, they are still waiting for someone to claim his body.

Rotorua police spokeswoman Wendy Wrigley said police had tried all avenues to try to find the man's next of kin but had so far found nothing. No friends had come forward either.

Mr Pedlar was living in Ewert St, but police do not know how long he had been living in Rotorua.

"It is really sad that you die and nobody comes forward to claim your body."

Mr Pedlar was being held at the Rotorua Hospital morgue "until someone claims him or the hospital says he has to go".

A hospital staff member said police had asked if the body could be held for three more days. If nobody came forward money would be taken from a mayoral fund to pay for a pauper's burial.

- DAILY POST (ROTORUA)