Body found in search for missing woman

  • Updated
  • 09/11/2018
The Haupiri River when it is not flooded (vague sense of foreboding).
The Haupiri River when it is not flooded. Photo credit: Google Maps

The body of a woman feared swept away on the West Coast has been found.

A Search and Rescue team recovered the body around 8am on Friday morning, police say no further information regarding the woman is available at this stage.

Emergency services were notified that the woman had gone into the Haupiri River at 7:59pm on Thursday evening.

A search of the area was unsuccessful and was stood down for the night just before 11pm. It resumed on Friday morning.

The woman was a member of the secretive Christian community Gloriavale, which is based on the banks of the Haupiri River.

Stuff reports the woman was Rejoice Steadfast, a mother of 11 and the daughter-in-law of Gloriavale secretary and treasurer Fervant Steadfast.

The death has been referred to the coroner.

Newshub.