Body found in Coromandel formally identified

Please attribute to Sergeant Vince Ranger, Waikato District SAR Co-ordinator:
 
Police have formally identified the body located in Coromandel bush as that of Shannon Earle Mako, (also known as Shannon Earle Makowharemahihi), aged 37, from Coromandel.
 
The body of Mr Mako was found in dense bush in the area around Castle Rock, in the Coromandel ranges behind the Coromandel township. 
 
Mr Mako was last seen on 1 June, and was reported missing on 9 June. 
 
His vehicle was located on 12 June in the area of Castle Rock,  a popular climbing area.
 
A search and rescue operation started that day and continued until Mr Mako was found on 23 June.
 
Volunteer LandSAR teams from Kuaotunu, Tairua/Pauanui/Whangamata, Thames, Waihi, Hamilton, Tauranga, Rotorua and Auckland - along with Police personnel from Waikato and Auckland - searched the bushlands around the Castle Rock area.  
 
The search effort was also assisted by the Hamilton-based high angle rope rescue team from Fire and Emergency NZ and a rope rescue team from Cave Rescue.
 
The search effort was huge, with a lot of hours, mostly volunteer, put in. The environment was pretty tough, with steep and dangerous terrain, very thick vegetation, and some rough weather conditions.
 

Mr Mako's body was found by one of the LandSAR teams, at the base of a large bluff in very thick vegetation and steep terrain. 
 

The search was very taxing on all the searchers and there was a mixture of emotions, both sorrow and and relief, when Mr Mako was located and we knew we were going to be able to return him to his whanau. 
 
Mr Mako was a recreational climber who was very comfortable in the bush environment.
 
The cause of his death is the subject of a coronial enquiry.
 
ENDS
 
Issued by Police Media Centre.