NZ Police admit losing White Island victim’s body in botched recovery

NZ Police have admitted to losing the body of one of the White Island victims in a botched recovery operation amid claims denied by police they towed the body on a rope through water.

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New Zealand Police have responded to shocking claims that they found the body of one of the White Island victims then lost it.

The bodies of tour guide Hayden Marshall-Inman and Sydney girl Winona Langford were both washed out to sea following the eruption.

Authorities on Wednesday admitted that they found the body of a man in the ocean but lost it again in a botched recovery mission.

Deputy Commissioner Mike Clement said they spotted a body and attempted to transfer it from a Navy vessel to a Police boat but failed because of rough sea conditions.

“We are hugely disappointed that we have been unable to recover two people,” he said in a statement.

The body of tour guide Hayden Marshall-Inman from White Island Tours was washed out to sea. Picture: YouTube

It is believed the body that was found is that of Mr Marshall-Inman.

A shocking social media post has accused authorities of covering up a failed recovery attempt in which a recovery boat apparently towed and ran over the body — claims denied by police.

Hayden Marshall-Inman from Whakatāne was a guide to White Island and died in the explosion.

Popular social media identity and apparent Ethan Tamaki on Friday claimed that a “extremely reliable source within the NZ Defence Force” told him of the attempt.

“I have been told of a horrific order commanded by those in NZ Police,” the post said.

Mr Tamaki goes onto claim that the NZ Navy sent out personnel in a small vessel to retrieve the body and were ordered to tow it back to the Police vessel.

Twenty people were killed in the fatal volcanic explosion. Two of these bodies were washed out to sea. Picture: YouTube

Police have denied Tamaki’s claim that they ran over the body or that the body was towed behind the boat.

NZ Police have described the claims as “offensive both to the families of the victims and to the police and Defence Force staff.”

The shocking revelations come after police earlier this month called off recovery efforts.

Twenty people died when the White Island volcano erupted while they were touring the island on December 9.