UK police confirm NZ man's body found

Johnny Sleigh's parents said he was a strong, loyal and caring person. Photo / Supplied

London police have confirmed a body recovered from the River Thames on Monday night (British time) is that of missing New Zealander Johnny Sleigh.

Mr Sleigh, 36, an engineering draughtsman was from Waimate, South Canterbury but had been living in London for about six years.

A statement early today on behalf of Johnny Sleigh's family, from his father and mother Peter and Caroline Sleigh, said: "We are very sad that our precious son is no longer with us."

"The days since Johnny went missing have been some of the most difficult in our lives as we waited for news from the other side of the world. We very much wanted Johnny to be found alive, but to our great sadness this has not turned out to be the case.

"It is a parent's hope their child will return safely from travels abroad and a parent's nightmare that something happens while they are away," the statement said.

"We are thankful to the police and his friends that in the end Johnny has been found and that we can now focus on bringing him back home.

"We still have many questions about how and why Johnny ended up being in the water and expect an inquest will help to answer some of these in the weeks and months to come.

"A marathon runner and cyclist, Johnny was a strong, loyal and caring person, with so much to live for. We loved it when Johnny would come back to the family farm in Waimate to take a break from busy London.

"The amazing outpouring of care and support from around the globe during this time shows just how special and loved our Johnny was."

The family members on whose behalf the statement was issued include Johnny Sleigh's brother David, and sisters Catherine Booth, Meg Sleigh and Susie Chambers.

The Metropolitan Police in London are continuing to ask for information about Johnny Sleigh's movements, but in the statement confirming his body had been identified investigators said the death was not being treated as suspicious and a post mortem examination found he died of drowning.

Johnny Sleigh left a nightclub about 1.20am on Saturday May 8, and was reported missing by his boss after he did not turn up for work the following Monday. His body was found a week later in the Thames near Tower Bridge.

Police are interested in hearing from anyone who might have seen him on the Hungerford foot bridge shortly before 2am on the day he went missing. They said they had closed circuit television of Johnny Sleigh on the foot bridge, and knew from CCTV that he did not reach the other side of the bridge.

- NZPA