Searchers headed into the South Westland backcountry today for an overdue hunter believed to be somewhere inland of Karangarua. Police area commander Inspector Mel Aitken said the man, 27-year-old Hans Christian Tornmarck, from Sweden, was reported overdue on Wednesday night. A helicopter made a preliminary search for Mr Tornmarck yesterday, including four huts he potentially might have visited in the past week, but by last night that had turned up nothing and a ground-based search was launched this morning. Mrs Aitken said police had "some concerns" for his welfare given the wide search area and the weather conditions. At least four police staff were on the ground today, working in conjunction with search and rescue volunteers.

Source: Otago Daily Times May 19, 2017 03:11 UTC