The heartbreaking news of the discovery of a 32-year-old missing British backpacker, who vanished while hiking in New Zealand, has been confirmed.
Stephanie Simpson, 32, was last observed by fellow hikers at Mount Aspiring National Park on the South Island on Saturday, February 8.
An alert was raised when Miss Simpson, from Essex, failed to show up for her landscaping job on Monday.
New Zealand police located her body around 1.40pm local time on Friday, February 14, near an area of the park known as Fantail Falls.
Earlier in the day, her backpack and hiking boots were discovered, leading search teams to concentrate their efforts in the vicinity.
Details regarding the cause of her death have not been disclosed yet.
Sergeant Mark Kirkwood conveyed the family’s request for privacy as they grieve, stating, “The search presented significant challenges, particularly considering the terrain, and the efforts of all those involved are deserving of praise.”