The father of missing Brisbane skier Scott McKay says he is “totally shattered” by news that a body found face-down in a Japanese creek yesterday may be that of his son.
But he warned it was too early to speculate on what had happened to the 27-year-old IT specialist, who vanished from the ski resort of Niseko, on the northern island of Hokkaido, while on holiday two months ago.
From his home at Indooroopilly, Mr McKay’s father, Hugh McKay, said he had received a telephone call last night from the Australian Consul-General with news that Japanese police had located a body near his son’s hotel about 5.45pm (6.45pm Brisbane time) yesterday.
“My understanding was that it was (in) a creek,” Mr McKay said.
“The entire family is totally shattered … it’s always difficult to comprehend how something like this has happened but hopefully the investigation will determine what did happen.
“We don’t have all the hard facts.”
It is believed searchers had earlier scoured the creek where the body was found.
“As to why police divers didn’t find him (at the time), there was six metres of snow when I went up there,” Mr McKay said.
“When I saw that, I just despaired.”
The local Hokkaido Shimbun newspaper today reported the body was found wearing clothes fitting a description of those worn by Scott McKay.
“If there’s anything we would like to say it’s only that the entire family is grateful to the Kutchan police and the many people who assisted … and searched tirelessly for our son,” Mr McKay said.
“We would also like to acknowledge the incredible support we have had from (DFAT) and in particular Mr Chris Wood, the Australian Consul-General in Sapporo.”
DFAT have confirmed an autopsy would be carried out today by local authorities to formally identify the body tomorrow, local time.
The river in the Kabayama, where the body was found, is a short distance past Pension Fuu, the lodge Mr McKay and nine friends were staying in on February 20.
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