The discoverers

VICTIM SUPPORT said in the year to June 2014 it supported 379 ‘‘discoverers’’ who’d happened across bodies from homicides or suicides. Of the 72 murders, the majority of finders (43) were classed as witnesses, 17 were first on the scene and just two were relatives of the victim.

Bereavement service specialist Susie Milne said discoverers were treated as victims and referred to counselling services.

People’s reactions often depended on the level of violence involved, she said, although relatives sometimes went through twice the trauma of finding their loved one alive but then seeing them die later.

Members of the public who found bodies while going about their daily routine might have that schedule disrupted in the future for fear of returning to the scene, she said.

‘‘Discoverers also often wonder about the person they have discovered – what their name was or what their family may now be going through,’’ Milne said.

‘‘When they discover the body of someone who may be a similar age to their own children or family members, this can cause further distress as it brings the experience that much closer to home.’’

A New Zealand police spokesperson said if people find a dead body they should first ensure their own safety before checking on the victim and calling 111.

‘‘If a crime has been committed do not change the scene or touch anything. Forensic examination is a very important aspect of any investigation. If you’ve touched or moved anything don’t return things to how they were. [If possible] protect the scene from interference from other people or animals.’’