Search and Rescue Otago Lakes co-ordinator Senior Sergeant John Fookes, of Queenstown, said Murray Horsfield, of Alexandra, left for a trip in the Dart River catchment on Saturday, February 11.
When Mr Horsfield did not get back as planned on the evening of Monday, February 13, his wife Tianna reported him missing the next morning, he said.
As soon as the report was received, a search was initiated in the Lower Dart area which involved staff from police, Land Search & Rescue (LandSAR) and the Department of Conservation.
LandSAR deployed assets including search dogs, alpine cliff rescue teams and swift-water searchers supported by aircraft.
Extensive areas were covered by ground and air-sniffing dogs during the first afternoon and they continued to comb the search area for the next several days without success.
Based on scenarios known to searchers and Mr Horsfield’s intentions, there were extensive areas where he might have gone, Snr Sgt Fookes said.
Searchers focused on elevated routes, looking for any sign of Mr Horsfield. Several areas of interest were identified.
As time went on police could focus their search efforts, and eventually Mr Horsfield’s body was found in a watercourse on Sunday afternoon by an alpine cliff rescue team.
"It appears he suffered a fall from height," Snr Sgt Fookes said.
During the search, members of Mr Horsfield’s immediate and extended family flew over from Australia. Mr Horsfield was a former member of the Australian Army and a couple of dozen of his former colleagues came over on their own initiative and were incorporated in LandSAR efforts.
"It was quite something," Snr Sgt Fookes said.
Some of the terrain searched was particularly difficult and included a large number of hazards, including huge chunks of rock, swamps and caves.
Snr Sgt Fookes paid tribute to the persistence and the long hours worked by searchers.
Mr Horsfield had been carrying two forms of communication, including an inReach beacon, and police encouraged anyone going into back country to do the same.
The coroner will investigate Mr Horsfield’s death.
