'Large-scale' search planned for man swept away in Canterbury river four days ago
Search crews will launch a “large-scale” operation to try and find a man swept away in a river near a Canterbury forest park last week, following extensive but unsuccessful search efforts.
Police received a report that a man was swept down a river near Craigieburn Forest Park on Thursday.
He and his friend were hiking the Cass-Lagoon Saddle track just after midday.
“While attempting a river crossing, the man has fallen and been swept downstream,” said Christchurch Police Search and Rescue Detective Cam Ellis.
The man’s friend made it back to State Highway 73, where a concerned passer-by stopped to help and raised the alarm.
Today, Detective Liam Mitchell said Police Search and Rescue had conducted “extensive searches” in the area since Thursday; however, the man had not been found.
“Planning is currently underway for a large-scale search in the Arthur’s Pass area, which will take place tomorrow alongside our partner agencies, including Land Search and Rescue and their dog teams, Canyon Search and Rescue, and Coastguard,” Mitchell said.
Police, with dog units, Land Search and Rescue teams, rescue helicopters from Garden City Helicopters and Main Divide Helicopters, and North Canterbury Coastguard, have searched the river and surrounding areas; so far without success.
Police and rescuers are searching for a man swept down a Canterbury river. Photo / Canterbury Police
Coastguard North Canterbury said during the search, crews located a beanie believed to belong to the missing man.
They said this was “a find that helped narrow the search area along the difficult terrain”.
A search is underway for a man missing in Craigieburn Forest Park.
The friend who walked out to raise the alarm had minor injuries and was taken to Christchurch Hospital for treatment, Ellis said.
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