Waihi death not suspicious

The death of a farmer near Waihi overnight is not considered suspicious.

Sergeant Dave Litton of the Waihi Police said emergency services were alerted that the 61-year-old man had a problem after he had rung his family from the back of his 500 acre farm that he wasn't feeling well and had chest pains about 4pm.

"Family members drove to the farm and were joined by neighbors and a search for the man commenced but they were unable to locate the man.

Mr Litton said a search operation was launched utilising Police staff, the Auckland based Westpac Rescue and Police Eagle helicopters and SAR volunteers from Waihi, Paeroa, Thames, Pauanui and Hamilton.

"In all around 40 people were involved in the operation, the man was found deceased in a paddock about 1km from the end of Willow Rd.

"There are no suspicious circumstances related to his death which has been reported to the Coroner. At this point we would like to express the gratitude of Eastern Waikato Police to all the volunteers, and their families, who came together to bring last night's operation to a timely conclusion and express our sympathies to the bereaved family."