by Selwyn Manning

Police have identified the body of the young woman found at Matiatia Bay on Waiheke Island near Auckland.

A post mortem examination indicates 17 year old Alanya Sherson died from drowning.

Alanya Sherson’s body was found yesterday by two local Waiheke Islanders washed up at Matiatia Bay.

An overnight police search had earlier failed to find a young woman reported as falling off the Fullers Ferry to Waiheke at about 8pm on Sunday.

The accident was witnessed by two girls, but unfortunately they failed to alert anyone onboard the ferry until it had birthed. Once on-land the girls told their mothers who alerted the police.

Police searched harbour buoys during the hours of darkness and were joined by a helicopter and coastguard for a daylight search.

Initial police reports suggested the girl had jumped from the ferry, but she is now believed to have fallen.

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