Body lies unclaimed in morgue

The body of a man who died from natural causes last week is lying unclaimed in a hospital morgue because authorities have been unable to track down any relatives.

James Michael McCarthy, 53, died in Middlemore Hospital last Wednesday, four days after he was admitted with an illness.

Police said he lived in a caravan in Papatoetoe in south Auckland but they needed help to find relatives so arrangements could be made for a funeral.

Police said although Mr McCarthy's death was not suspicious, they would make every effort to find his relatives before a decision was made on what to do with his body.

- NZPA