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Body of climber missing for 42 years on New Zealand's highest peak is finally identified | Body of climber missing for 42 years on New Zealand's highest peak is finally identified |
(7 months later) | |
The body of a man who went missing while climbing a glacier on New Zealand's highest peak has finally been identified – 42 years after he disappeared. | The body of a man who went missing while climbing a glacier on New Zealand's highest peak has finally been identified – 42 years after he disappeared. |
David Erik Moen was just 19 when he was caught in an avalanche in September 1973 on the Tasman glacier, a remote peak in Aoraki Mount Cook National Park, on the country's south island. | David Erik Moen was just 19 when he was caught in an avalanche in September 1973 on the Tasman glacier, a remote peak in Aoraki Mount Cook National Park, on the country's south island. |
The body of the friend he was with at the time was found, alongside Mr Moen's bag - but his remains, which were reportedly "well-preserved", were not found until January this year by two climbers in the area. | The body of the friend he was with at the time was found, alongside Mr Moen's bag - but his remains, which were reportedly "well-preserved", were not found until January this year by two climbers in the area. |
They were taken for DNA testing - and police have now announced that it was indeed Mr Moen. | They were taken for DNA testing - and police have now announced that it was indeed Mr Moen. |
He was found in the frozen wilderness, just a few weeks after his father, Erik Moen, 92, died at a rest home in Alexandra. Mr Moen's mother died the year before. | He was found in the frozen wilderness, just a few weeks after his father, Erik Moen, 92, died at a rest home in Alexandra. Mr Moen's mother died the year before. |
Mr Moen's relatives said they were grateful to police but said that they "couldn't put into words what it feels like to have David returned to us after all this time". | Mr Moen's relatives said they were grateful to police but said that they "couldn't put into words what it feels like to have David returned to us after all this time". |
"We are taken back to when he first went missing back in 1973," the BBC reported. | "We are taken back to when he first went missing back in 1973," the BBC reported. |
"David's spirit still remains in the beautiful, peaceful environment which claimed the life of a wonderful and dearly loved young man in the prime of his life." | "David's spirit still remains in the beautiful, peaceful environment which claimed the life of a wonderful and dearly loved young man in the prime of his life." |
Officers said that another set of human remains - found at the Hochsetter glacier, near to Tasman, in March - were being tested but that identification "may take some time". | Officers said that another set of human remains - found at the Hochsetter glacier, near to Tasman, in March - were being tested but that identification "may take some time". |
Yellow-eye Penguins and Silver Discoverer - Enderby Island, New Zealand | |
Dusky Sound, Fiordland, New Zealand (Rob Suisted / www.naturespic.com) | |
Rob Suisted / www.naturespic.com | |
Silver Discoverer at Dusky Sound, Fiordland, New Zealand | |
Perseverance Harbour, Campbell Island, J Hiscock, New Zealand | |
Sealion Sandy Bay Enderby Island, J Hiscock, New Zealand | |
New Zealand map |