A college student died in his dorm room at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand — and his body wasn't found for nearly two months, local media reported.
The unnamed student's body was discovered Monday night after students complained of a mysterious stench in the dorm, New Zealand news siteStuffreported. The young man's father had reportedly contacted the police when he could not get in touch with his son.
The body was in such a state of decomposition that a disaster victim identification team reportedly had to be called in to check fingerprints, DNA, and dental records to determine the identity.
The student's name has not yet been made public, and the cause of death is still being investigated.
It is not yet clear how the student's death could have gone unnoticed for so long.
The school's vice-chancellor, professor Cheryl de la Rey, expressed her condolences to the boy's family in a statement, saying it is "inconceivable to imagine how these circumstances could have occurred."