Body of missing British hiker Stephanie Simpson found in New Zealand national park

14 February 2020, 06:47

EJ Ward

By EJ Ward

Police have confirmed they have found the body of Stephanie Simpson who was reported missing in New Zealand after failing to return from a day's hiking.

Stephanie Simpson, 32, was reported missing on Monday after she did not turn up to her job as a gardener in the Wanaka area, where she had been living.

She reportedly told friends she had planned to go hiking in Mount Aspiring National Park on the South Island at the weekend.

Sergeant Mark Kirkwood, the officer in Charge, West Coast Search and Rescue confirmed on Friday morning that searchers had located her body.

The discovery was made about 1.40pm in the Pyke Creek area.

The officer said: "Earlier, searchers had found items in the area thought to belong to Stephanie, including a pack and a pair of boots. 

"Police extend their condolences to Stephanie's family at this tragic time. "

It is thought her death is a tragic accident, and has been referred to the coroner.

Stephanie Simpson
Stephanie Simpson. Picture: Family handout

The park on New Zealand's South Island is described by the country's Department of Conservation as a "wonderful mixture of remote wilderness, high mountains and beautiful river valleys".

"It is a walker's paradise and a must for mountaineers," it added.

Police in New Zealand said Ms Simpson, from the Basildon area of Essex, was "reasonably experienced and very fit", the New Zealand Herald reported.

Ms Simpson's parents, Sally and Trevor Simpson, flew out to New Zealand earlier this week to assist with the search to find their daughter.

Her friends have since taken to social media to tribute to her.

Danny Kilbane wrote: “We are all heartbroken and are going to struggle to come to terms with our loss.

“Steph you will be missed by all more than words can explain. RIP angel."

Latest World News

See more Latest World News

Rescuers searching through rubble

Paramedics among the 16 killed by Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon

Soldiers in giant fuel tank

US military drains giant wartime fuel tanks which had poisoned water supply

Sam Bankman-Fried

FTX founder Bankman-Fried facing decades in prison for crypto fraud

Aiden Minnis (left) and Ben Stimson (right) joined the Russian military

British traitor fighting for Russia in Ukraine says he is 'prepared to die' for Putin after family 'disowns him'

Austria Navalny

Portraits of Alexei Navalny unveiled next to Soviet soldier monument in Vienna

Hawaii Wildfire

Hawaii fire survivors moving into housing but 3,000 still in hotels

Trump Investigations Eastman

Judge says former Trump lawyer should be debarred

The cargo ship Dali stuck under part of the structure of the Francis Scott Key Bridge after the ship hit the bridge in Baltimore

Baltimore bridge collapse: Divers recover two bodies from water

Germany Bus Accident

Four killed in German bus accident

Two bodies have been recovered from the water where the Baltimore bridge collapsed.

Two victims of Baltimore bridge collapse named after bodies found 'trapped in truck' by divers

Disgraced Spanish football boss who grabbed and kissed Women's World Cup winner faces two-and-a-half-years in jail

Disgraced Spanish football boss who grabbed and kissed Women's World Cup winner faces two-and-a-half-years in jail

Crocus City Hall

Death toll in Moscow concert hall attack rises to 143

The Amazon logo

Amazon pours additional £2.1bn into AI start-up Anthropic

Jill Biden

Jill Biden writes children’s book about White House cat Willow

Ron DeSantis

Settlement reached in lawsuit between Florida governor Ron DeSantis and Disney

Beyonce

Beyonce shares Cowboy Carter track list ahead of album release