After issuing a public notice asking for help identifying a man rescued from the sea at Eastbourne, Hutt Valley Police have successfully named the individual.
The beach at Eastbourne. Photo: RNZ
Earlier today, Police took the unusual step of publishing the man's photo in the hope someone could identify him after all other inquiries were unsuccessful.
Detective Sergeant Grant Carroll praised the public response.
"Thanks to the excellent public response and the great coverage provided by the news media following release of the photo, the man has now been identified as an Indian national in his 20s studying in New Zealand.
"With the assistance of an interpreter, we are now in the process of contacting his family in India," said Detective Sergeant Grant Carroll of Hutt Valley CIB.
Mr Carroll said a New Zealand man had recognised the photo on news outlets online while attending a conference in Sri Lanka and contacted police.
The man was rescued by two members of the public who provided CPR until ambulance staff arrived, and is currently on life support in Wellington Hospital.
His identity has now been successfully established and officially confirmed, but he will not be named until appropriate notifications have been made.
