How police plan to crack down on gangs, body found in search for missing Kiwi and another potential shake-up to Auckland’s transport in the latest New Zealand Herald headlines. Video / NZ Herald
British police have confirmed a body has been found in the search for New Zealander Joseph Day, who went missing in mysterious circumstances three days ago.
TVNZ staff are mourning the loss of Day, who worked at the state broadcaster as a cameraman, and have paid tribute to their "brilliantly talented" former colleague.
Avon and Somerset police said a man's body was located and recovered in Avon Gorge, Bristol, late on Tuesday night (NZT).
"While formal identification has not yet taken place, we have updated the family of missing 31-year-old Joseph Day," police said in a statement.
"Our hearts go out to them and we thank them for their patience while enquiries into the circumstances of death continue."
Former TVNZ cameraman Joseph Day's fiancée was terrified that something happened to him. Photo / Instagram
Police asked the public to avoid speculation and respect the privacy of Day's family.
Day's fiancee Kelsey Mulcahy earlier told the Herald she was frustrated that police initially deemed Joseph's disappearance as low risk and would not track his phone.
Mulcahy last heard from him around 9.30pm on Saturday (local time) - he had stopped texting her but she just thought he had gone to bed early. The next morning she called him around 9am and still got no answer - she thought he was just sleeping in.
About 2pm that day she arrived back home from London to their flat in the Bristol suburb of Clifton and he wasn't there - their bed was still made, curtains were drawn and all that was missing was his keys, wallet and phone, Mulcahy said.
British police have confirmed a body has been found in the search for missing Kiwi Joseph Day. Photo / Facebook
Day is a former TVNZ camera operator from Auckland. It is understood the couple had moved from New Zealand to Bristol in January.
A number of his former TVNZ colleagues - including Andrew Macfarlane and Daniel Faitaua - reacted with shock to the news.
Macfarlane, who is based in Australia, said Day was a "brilliantly talented camera operator" who would be missed.
"Joe was a brilliantly talented camera operator, and had a real eye for things," wrote Macfarlane on Twitter. "He had a unique way of getting people to talk with ease in front of the camera, in a situation that can feel absolutely bizarre. A testament to how friendly he was to people. He will be missed."
TVNZ's Europe correspondent Daniel Faitaua said he was thinking of Day's family, friends and colleagues "at this very sad time".
Sunday reporter Mava Moayyed said Day was an "exceptional" camera operator and a "wonderful" colleague.
"He had the ability to capture angles, lights, and moments that added so much beauty to each story. He was loyal and honourable. When we would go out on shoots, the people we were filming adored him. He was humble, hardworking, but work wasn't his life. It was clear how much he loved his family and his fiancé. My heart is broken for them. Rest in peace, Joe."
Absolutely horrible news. Thoughts are with his family, fiancé and friends.
Joseph Day was an exceptional camera op on @sundaytvnz and a wonderful colleague. He had the ability to capture angles, lights, and moments that added so much beauty to each story. He was loyal and honourable 1/2 pic.twitter.com/ySkj0WhR7S
Earlier, Mulcahy said she faced long interviews with Avon and Somerset police officers and search teams on Monday, and she said search efforts had been slow to kick off.
"The frustrating thing is that his phone is on and they're not tracking it," she said earlier.
"They said they don't have permission because he is not a high risk because I described him as not being suicidal or at risk to anyone else and because he is solidly built, he's a male and he can take care of himself at this stage," said Mulcahy.
"I cannot stress enough how out of character this is for him. We have been together for five years, he wouldn't do this to me, we have a very happy relationship we were both looking forward to going to Bath today. I'm terrified something has happened."
