Searchers ‘yet to exhaust every possibility’
A large-scale search is underway this morning (Tuesday, 11 February) as police and Wānaka Search and Rescue (SAR) continue their work to locate a man reported missing in a river in Mt Aspiring National Park
Artigau Héctor Gastón, a 21-year-old from Pergamino, Buenos Aires, Argentina, was swept away last Thursday.
He was last seen at 4.30pm, approximately 600 meters from the Upper Lookout Rob Roy (near the river), in the National Park.
Yesterday police carried out extensive planning and preparation for a large-scale search commencing at 7am on today.
“Specialty search and rescue units including Land SAR canyon, river rescue, and sub alpine SAR will be in the area around Rob Roy Stream as we work to locate the missing man,” a police spokesperson says
“The search will also involve an aerial scan of the Rob Roy Stream area in its entirety, and underwater cameras.
“We have yet to exhaust every conceivable possibility and will endeavour to do this to our full capability.”
Police thanked all the volunteers involved in the search and Aspiring Helicopters.
