Revealed: Final text from New Zealand cameraman found dead in UK

Tom Flanagan
·Associate News Editor
·2-min read

The final text from a New Zealand TV cameraman whose body was found in the UK after a three-day search has been revealed by his devastated fiancée.

Joseph Day, 31, was chatting with his long-term partner Kelsey Mulcahy on Saturday evening when text messages from him abruptly stopped, The Age reported.

She told Nine newspapers she had texted Mr Day to put down the blinds in their Bristol home as she travelled to London with friends.

“His reply was ‘will do’ and then he stopped responding," she revealed.

Failing to hear from her partner again and discovering he was not home on her return on Sunday, Ms Mulcahy contacted police who commenced a widespread search for Mr Day on Monday. Police confirmed his body had been found on Tuesday (local time).

Joseph Day pictured left and right, before he disappeared. Source: Facebook
Joseph Day vanished on Saturday night, with his body found by police three days later. Source: Facebook

Ms Mulcahy is at a loss as to what happened to her partner, with his disappearance "extremely out of character".

‘We just adore each other, we have not had problems in our relationship and I would be truly honest if we did," she said before the discovery of his body. She had embarked on a brief campaign to find her partner, sharing posters and social media posts seeking any information on his whereabouts.

Joseph Day's body found at Avon Gorge

In a statement police said his body was found at Avon Gorge, the location of the famous Clifton Suspension Bridge and just over 1km from where he was last sighted.

"Our hearts go out to [Mr Day's family] and we thank them for their patience while enquiries into the circumstances of death continue," it read.

"We’d ask the public to avoid speculation and respect the privacy of Joseph’s family at this time."

Pembroke Road in Clifton where Joseph Day had lived. Source: Google Maps
Mr Day lived on Pembroke Road in Clifton where he was last seen. Source: Google Maps

Tributes flow for talented cameraman

Tributes have flooded in for Mr Day, who previously worked as a cameraman for NZTV.

TVNZ Sunday correspondent Mark Crysell said he was "absolutely devastated" by the news of Mr Day's death.

"His beautiful eye and deep soul became pictures that lifted our stories to another level," he said on Twitter.

Others from the network praised his talent as a cameraman, which included working on the Christchurch terror attack.

High school friend Conor Connolly told the New Zealand Herald he was filled with "overwhelming sadness" after learning of Mr Day's death.

Friends of the couple have set up a fundraising page to bring his body home to Aotearoa, New Zealand. More than $40,000 has been raised so far.

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