Body Located in Canterbury District, 8:00pm

Department of Conservation staff at Aoraki / Mt Cook National Park have located a body close to the Mueller Glacier. The body is presumed to be that of a missing Israeli tramper.

The missing man, aged in his 20's, was last seen at the Mueller Hut at 8.15am on Monday morning. He was due out that day. DOC staff located his car at Whitehorse Hill car park this morning after he failed to sign out. Two members of the Alpine Rescue Team searched the route up to the hut, and then further team members undertook an aerial search. He was located soon after.

'The area where he has been located is difficult terrain,' said DOC Area Manager Richard McNamara. 'It is too windy to retrieve him tonight, so the team have made the decision to return tomorrow when the weather improves.'

Mueller Hut is located at 1800m on the Sealy Range to the west of Aoraki / Mt Cook village. It is a popular overnight trip with a steep 1000m climb, and is reached in around three hours from the valley floor.