Bodies of missing men found near Raglan
SATURDAY , 19 NOVEMBER 2005
The search for a missing helicopter pilot and liquor magnate, who went missing with his Dutch beer company executive passenger more than two weeks ago, ended on Saturday.
The bodies of Michael Erceg and his passenger, Guus Klatte, were found in the wreckage of the helicopter at the base of Mt Karioi, south of Raglan, about 7pm today, a spokesman for the Wellington-based Rescue Coordination Centre told NZPA tonight.
"The bodies of the missing men and the helicopter were found by an independent search party and were thought to have also been spotted by a helicopter," the spokesman said.
He said Mr Erceg's helicopter had crashed into an area of bush within farmland at the base of the mountain.
"Both men are believed to have died in the crash," he said.
Mr Erceg, one of New Zealand's richest men, and Mr Klatte were heading for Queenstown with planned refuelling stops at Wanganui and Rangiora, when they went missing on Nov 4.
Michael Erceg's brother, Ivan, who has been leading the family's search for the missing men, was not available for comment tonight.
Police referred all inquiries to the Rescue Coordination Centre.
The official search for Mr Erceg and Mr Klatte was suspended more than a week ago.