Canoeist's body found

Lake Te Anau. Photo / Sarah Ivey

Police have found the body of a 24-year-old male tourist who went missing while canoeing on Lake Te Anau.

The man's body was located a short distance from his canoe at Brod Bay this afternoon, Senior Sergeant Dave Raynes said.

Mr Raynes said the man's name and nationality were yet to be confirmed.

He is aged in his early 20s and believed to be from a European nation.

The tourist was last seen taking his canoe on to the lake about 10am yesterday.

Police said earlier that he was believed to have been carrying a life jacket in his old, red fibreglass canoe.

A helicopter returned to the lake this morning after searches yesterday afternoon failed to locate the man.

Mr Raynes said police were making enquiries into the man's background.