Search for missing helicopter passengers called off
10.01.2004
10.10am
A search for the two people aboard the helicopter that went missing over northern Fiordland a week ago has been called off, rescuers confirmed today.
The search would only be re-activated if "fresh information" was received, National Rescue Co-ordination Centre (NRCC) co-ordinator Ray Parker said.
The decision to indefinitely suspend the search operation was made late last night.
Aboard the missing helicopter were 27-year-old pilot Campbell Montgomerie from Hamilton and his 28-year-old English passenger, Hannah Rose Timings.
The pair had now been missing since last Saturday and bad weather in Fiordland would have impaired the ability of anyone to survive beyond seven days, Mr Parker said.
"One of the things that Search and Rescue doesn't do is concern itself with looking for missing aircraft or finding wreckage.
"We are concerned with saving lives and a search assessment is made on the possibility of survivors."
The weather had frustrated air searches, he said.
"However, at the end of yesterday's flying we'd covered all those areas we would have wished to cover, it just took longer than anticipated.
"There will be no further search activities until there is fresh information."
Mr Parker declined to say what the fresh information could include.
There was the possibility of ongoing private searches by the missing pair's family and friends, he said.
Friends and family of Ms Timings, including her aunt and her father who had travelled from England, were believed to still be in Te Anau.