QUEENSTOWN, New Zealand – New Zealand police have confirmed the discovery of the body of an unidentified man in the area where two young Quebecers have been missing since July 6.
Lisa Watt, a detective with the Queenstown police - where Étienne Lemieux and Louis-Vincent Lessard were last seen - confirmed by email to The Canadian Press on Sunday morning that helicopters had spotted the body overnight on Kepler Track in Fiordland National Park.
It seems that the man was swept away by an avalanche, said Watt.
The authorities could not retrieve the body due to unfavourable weather conditions. The recovery operation will resume at sunrise in New Zealand.
The young men’s families were advised of the discovery, said Watt.
Étienne Lemieux and Louis- Vincent Lessard, both 23, were last seen on July 6 in Queenstown. The two friends and Universite de Montreal students were supposed to return to Quebec on Friday morning. As soon as their relatives discovered they were not on board their return flight, they alerted authorities.
Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs spokesperson François Lasalle confirmed to The Canadian Press on Saturday night that the Canadian authorities had been informed of the disappearance of two Canadians.
Canadian consular officials in New Zealand are in contact with local authorities for more information, he said.
A Facebook page was set up to help find the missing men.
