The body of Lawrence Broadbent, second officer of the s.s. Kanna, missing since the evening of the 10th inst., and believed at the time to have been drowned in the Buller River, when attempting to board the ship, was found on the North Beach, Westport, on Saturday at 11.45 a.m., by two lads, Reginald Lorsen and Fawcett Clark, between the tiphead and the rubbish depot. The body was found lying among driftwood. Constables Nesbitt and Adams had the body removed to the morgue. It was in a partly decomposed state. The coat was missing, and the vest and trousers were in shreds. A plain gold ring was on the second finger of the left hand. Inside the ring were the words "Mary to Laurie." A brass ship's key, with a brass tab attached, bearing the words, "Third Officer," was found in one of the pockets. At an inquest held by Coroner Wilson a verdict of found dead on the Westport beach on November 20th was returned.
Source: Greymouth Evening Star, 24 November 1915, Page 4