Trail of blood found at toilet block

Police are at a loss to explain a large amount of blood found at a toilet block at well-known tourist spot Punakaiki on the West Coast.

Department of Conservation (DOC) staff found human blood splattered on the walls of the toilet block on Sunday morning, and a thick trail of blood in the public car park.

Acting Detective Sergeant Dan Keno, of Greymouth CIB, said DOC staff cleaned a large amount of blood from the toilet walls and sink before police arrived on Sunday.

But police did inspect pools of congealed blood the size of "dinner plates" in the car park.

The trail of blood to the car park suggested a wounded person got into a vehicle and left the scene, Mr Keno said.

Police also found two "decent-sized" rocks in the car park with blood on them.

Mr Keno said no-one had been admitted to a hospital with injuries consistent with the blood.

"We're not sure whether someone has just fallen over and banged their head or something so we thought we better make sure there is nothing sinister in it."

Police would like to hear from anyone with information, he said.

- nzpa