'Headless' body remains a mystery

Police said prolonged DNA analysis would be needed to identify a headless body found in a tidal cave near Raglan. Photo / Herald on Sunday

The identity of a man whose body was found off Waikato's west coast on December 2 remains a mystery.

The body, reported to be naked and headless, was found by a tourist in a tidal cave at the north end of Ruapuke Beach, near Raglan.

Waikato police spokesman Andrew McAlley said today the identification had proved difficult.

"The body is still subject to forensic analysis. We're not expecting anything for another week," he said.

Fingerprints identification was inconclusive and there were no other identifying features, so a prolonged DNA analysis was needed.

Police have not ruled out the body being that of a diver who disappeared on November 7.

Te Awamutu father-of-four John Lindsay, 36, was never found after he went missing during a dive with friends and family at Gannet Island, a popular diving spot 19km off Raglan.

- NZPA