Body of missing Israeli tourist found in New Zealand
35-year-old Netiv Ha'asara resident Liat Tas-Okin was last seen on the Routeburn Track on March 26; her body retrieved in elaborate operation conducted by local police, private search team
The body of missing Israeli tourist Liat Tas-Okin, 35, was found in a Fiordland area in south New Zealand during the early hours of Friday morning.
The body belonging to the Netiv Ha'asara resident was discovered by a local police party of eight that flew into the Routeburn Track area after her backpack and shoes were found by a private search team in a dense bush off the track Thursday evening.
Otago rural police area commander Inspector Andrew Burns said he was unable to confirm the body was that of a woman.
"All I'm prepared to say at this stage is that it was found within the vicinity of the other property found that did belong to Liat," Burns told the New Zealand Herald.
According to the Herald, Tas-Okin was last seen at the Mackenzie Hut on the Routeburn Track on March 26. A police search failed to find any trace of her and a private search coordinated by her bother, Itamar Tas, was launched on April 24.
"We retrieved the body with the use of a helicopter in an elaborate operation carried out in cooperation with local police," said Hilik Magnus, a member of the private search team. He estimated that Okin-Tas had lost her way and eventually froze to death.
Liat's mother told Ynet that she received the bitter news at 3 am. "I was very surprised and shocked. I was certain she would be found alive.
"During this entire time we continued to try and find her although a significant period of time had passed and people told me that the situation was worrying," she said.
