Renowned Christchurch medical professor Sir Don Beaven is feared to have died fighting a fire at his Canterbury bach yesterday.
The authority on diabetes and former chairman of the Canterbury Area Health Board was thought to have been alone at his house in Little Akaloa, on Banks Peninsula, when fire broke out about 11.40am.
Akaroa chief fire officer Kim Stewart said the hillside property was well alight when crews arrived.
Senior Sergeant Stu Munro, of Selwyn police, told The Press firefighters thought they had found a body, but the fire was "so devastating" it could take up to a week to complete identification.
A garden hose leading in to the house, still running but charred, led crews to fear the victim had tried to fight the fire.
A police specialist disaster victim identification team spent yesterday afternoon searching the remains of the house.
The search was complicated by the huge number of books in the house, Mr Stewart said.
Sir Don was a pioneer in major developments in diabetes treatment and prevention, and in many initiatives in public health.
He was foundation professor of the Christchurch School of Medicine and had held medical appointments and fellowships all over the world.
He was made a Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit -- the country's highest honour -- in the 2005 New Year Honours,
He recently accepted a knighthood after the National Government restored the former honours system.
