Air New Zealand Captain Went Missing in HK since 5 Aug

[croesus]

An Air New Zealand Captain went missing in HK since yesterday while hiking in Tai Po area. For the past 24 hours, Police, Flying Forces have been trying their best to locate him but without much succes. I fervently hope that the Captain is doing OK and is now in a safe place. I am appealing to people who believe in prayers could help say prayers for his safe return.

Air NZ pilot missing in Hong Kong - World - NZ Herald News (http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10663989)

[noooby]

C'mon Chook, where are ya? I hope they find him safe and sound soon.

[Sqwak7700]

I am appealing to people who believe in prayers could help say prayers for his safe return.

While I really do hope that he is OK and wakes up with a serious hang-over down in the wanch, I doubt praying will do anything. It is about as useful as wishing it wasn't so.

So yes, I wish it wasn't so if it makes you feel any better.

[hkgmjq]

From today's SCMP:

Mystery Surrounds Hiker's Disappearance
Martin Wong
Aug 07, 2010

The search for Stephen Morrissey - a New Zealand pilot who went missing on Wednesday while hiking in Pat Sin Leng - was continuing last night amid mystery as to how an experienced hiker could have gone astray on a relatively easy hiking trail.

Two days after his disappearance, more than 100 police, fire and civil aid officers were deployed to look for the 51-year-old with the assistance of a government helicopter and dogs. His family and friends also flew into the city yesterday from New Zealand to help with the search.

Their efforts had been unsuccessful as of last night and rescuers said the pursuit would continue overnight.

Morrissey came to the city with his friend, Mark, 54, and together they began traversing a 15-kilometre trail starting from Hok Tau Wai at 7am on Wednesday.

Ken Ng On-yeung, chairman of the Hong Kong Hiking Society, said the trail, which is part of the renowned Wilson Trail, was not a difficult one. He gave it a difficulty rating of 3 out of 5.

"If people follow the pavement trail designed by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, there is no way they would get lost and there is no danger of falling down any slope," he said.

The pair, both pilots for Air New Zealand, walked together until the final part of the trail at which point Morrissey told Mark he wanted to get more water and so decided to walk ahead.

They were supposed to meet again at the final stop on the trail in Tai Mei Tuk at 3pm.

But Mark failed to see Morrissey after more than an hour of waiting and so returned to their hotel in the hope he might have gone back there alone. Mark called police after realising Morrissey had not made it back to the hotel. He told police they had been hiking in Hong Kong many times in the past.

Each rescuer was issued with a picture of Morrissey taken only a few hours before he vanished. At 1.8 metres tall, he is of thin build, has a pointed face with short, grey hair and a light complexion.

He was wearing a pair of metal-framed glasses, a grey T-shirt, green shorts, carrying a black rucksack and was holding a blue umbrella.

Ng reminded people that they should always go hiking with somebody and should ensure they have enough water.

[Gigaboomer]

It is about as useful as wishing it wasn't so.

Sqwak, I suspect the vast majority of the worlds population would beg to differ, no matter what particular faith they prescribe to.

Croesus, I will pray for you.

[Capetonian]

I don't believe in prayer, as an agnostic, but I do believe in the power of positive thought, so let's hope Mr. Morrissey is safe and sound and soon returns.

[Arfur Dent]

Any further reports?

[routetuner]

All HKG pilots,
we as a group need to help in the search for this man. We need to put ourselves forward to assist in any way we can. We have amongst ourselves experienced walkers, we need to do something to help his family and of couse the man himself. Does anyone know of any point of contact.

[Night Watch]

Does anyone know how we can get involved in the search?

[Neptunus Rex]

You guys should have been out searching at first light on Thursday. Talking about organising a search when it's just before sunset, three days after the event, is somewhat forlorn. His mate should never have left him without a rendezvous plan.

[Air Profit]

...YOU guys should have been....blah, blah, blah... Really....and what have YOU been doing you supercilious git?

[nitpicker330]

I think if you read the above SCMP post AGAIN you will clearly see that they did plan to meet up in 1 hours time. After which the friend promptly raised the alarm.

What would you have done?

[Starting Blocks]

Try having a bit of respect for others. If believers want to pray for the guy, then so much the better - who needs you coming on here and suggesting they are just too lazy or unintelligent to read science books?

No-one is trying to convert you, so why not shut up and have a minimum of dignity. Mind you, this forum is stuffed full of loud, boring a*** holes with an over inflated sense of their own importance, so you actually fit in pretty well.

Don't bother replying, I won't be back here to read any more ramblings from people like you. Have a nice day.

[PBY]

I love to read on science. And what I have read is this.
Big Bang: In the beginning was nothing and when this nothing blew up, there were all the atoms the next second.
Bible says: In the beginining was the word and the word was with God.
I am not sure which version needs more faith? I have a tendency to believe, that the supernatural theory is more plausible for me, because it involves somebody who designed the universe with all its beauty. But I am never going to critisize the ateist's faith. I think that everybody has his right to believe his own theory, be it believing in Big Bang as a theory of everything from nothing.
Yes and I am also praying for the man!

[19weeler]

PBY,

So who created the one who created the universe then??? I assume you call him god.

Why does "god" choose to kill more people in third world poor countries as opposed to the developed world? Malaria? HIV? Tsetse? Cholera? Natural disaster?

Anyone? Anyone?

[19weeler]

PS. I hope the missing Captain is found in good health today!!!

[Ex Cathedra]

I wish I could be out there looking for him.

I know these trails ok. He must have ventured out of the main trail to still be missing. Some of those secondary trail can be quite treacherous. And if you find yourself with only a broken leg out where no one goes by with no cellphone coverage, there's not much you can do. It's amazing how lost in the middle of nowhere you can find yourself in HK, and only a couple of miles from civilization as the crow flies...

I'd like to know how the research effort is organized too. The Pat Sing Leung isn't that long, and covering the main and all secondary trails in the area can't take that long for a decent sized group of rescuers.

[Captain Dart]

My post deleted after I belatedly considered friends of Capt. Morrissey who may be viewing this thread.

[Edmund Spencer]

If I remember correctly there was a very active line of thunderstorms that crossed the territory from north to south on the evening of 5th Aug.
I don't know this particular trail but is it subject to flash floods? I have seen these in the Sai Kung country park and they can turn a small stream into a raging torrent in a matter of minutes.
From what I saw over the airport there was a lot of lightning associated with this particular goup of cells. Not a good time to be caught out in the open.

[AGNES]

A hat was found this afternoon but still not sure it was the pilot's or not.

[AD POSSE AD ESSE]

WHAT!?

The missing captain not wearing his hat!!

Let's hope that H C doesn't find out, otherwise there will be another letter to the troops, from the uniform policeman himself...:zzz:

[Basil]

I've only walked on Lantau but, if you have the misfortune to fall off the path into the bush and are injured, you could be very difficult to find. The slopes are steep and thickly covered.
Wasn't there a French walker who disappeared a few years ago?

Captain Morrissey could still be alive - Police helicopter with IR at night when the bush cools?

this forum is stuffed full of loud, boring a*** holes with an over inflated sense of their own importance . . . . I won't be back here
Well, at least there's something to brighten our day.

[AGNES]

Confirmed by the pilot's family that the hat did not belong to him. The newspaper said.

[hkgmjq]

From today's HK Standard:

Cap Fails to Fit in Hiker Search

Colleen Lee

Monday, August 09, 2010

Searchers are yet to find any trace of New Zealand pilot Stephen Morrissey, four days after he went missing in Pat Sin Leng Country Park.

Hopes rose briefly yesterday when volunteers came across a hat, but a government spokeswoman said Morrissey's family and friends have confirmed it is not his.

Morrissey, 51, was last seen on Wednesday while hiking in Tai Po with colleague Mark Apperley.

The two men separated near the end of the Wilson Trail when Morrissey told Apperley he was going downhill to buy some water.

But Morrissey failed to turn up at a nearby bus terminus as arranged, or later that day at their Wan Chai hotel.

About 200 firemen, police officers and members of the Civil Aid Service continued combing the hills along the Wilson Trail yesterday.

Search dogs from the Hong Kong Search and Rescue Dog Association were also brought in, and a helicopter crew from the Government Flying Service scoured the area as on previous days. The government spokeswoman said Civil Aid Service sent about 150 members to search for the missing pilot yesterday.

Since Wednesday, a total of 266 fire officers have been searching along the ravines and trail without finding any trace of Morrissey, she said.

Morrissey's family and friends, who flew into Hong Kong on Friday, also continued to help in the search effort.

Police said earlier that Morrissey went missing while hiking around Wong Chuk Chuen.

Morrissey is about 1.8 meters tall, of thin build, has a pointed face, with short gray hair and white complexion, police said.

He was wearing metal-frame glasses, a gray T-shirt, green shorts, a black rucksack and carrying a blue umbrella.

[Neptunus Rex]

Air Profit & Nitpicker.
What would I have done?
I would have taken along a knapsack with plenty of water, high energy rations, a torch, spare shirt and trousers, a hat and a mobile phone. They work in most areas in the country parks and have been used many times to raise an alert. I would not have separated from my companion.
However, given the circumstances, when he did not appear at the bus station rendezvous, his mate should have reported to the local police station. He could then have led the police to the scene without delay. It must have taken him at least 90 minutes to get from the bus station to their hotel.
A simple Google search of "Hiking+Hong Kong" will reveal several sites with all the information you need to prepare for a hike in the hills.
I hope he is soon found safe and well.

[The Wraith]

....and after all that I forgot to say that I sincerely hope he is found safe and sound....:ok:

[Vel Paar]

Kiwi B777 pilot missing in HKG reported by NZ Herald
Air NZ pilot missing in Hong Kong (http://www.pprune.org/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10663989)

More than 50 emergency workers, tracker dogs and a helicopter have been searching for an Air NZ pilot who went missing on a tramp in Hong Kong. More (http://www.pprune.org/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10663989)


I wonder why do pilots have to go on such " adventures " while on a layover. A macho thing? I certainly hope for the best in this case but I am sometimes amazed at pilots going into bungy jumping, alpine skiing, etc at layovers. Well, they certainly will have wild and interesting tales to tell in the crew lounges of their exploits but please do so on their yearly vacations

I thought many airlines have policies against engaging in hazardous sporting activities during night stops, not that I think tramping is hazardous.

[Maple Leafs]

Does someone have a map of where he was last seen, where he went for water and where is the bus stop? :confused: What kind of distance are we talking about here?

[Captain Dart]

Alright Nike, hkgmjq, Gnadenburg and the rest of the 'thread police', here goes:

I am not actually in HKG and therefore I unable to 'help' search for the gentleman in question. All I can do, like most of us, is speculate. I speculate, on PPRUNE, because I CAN!

There are some nasty things in them thar hills in Hong Kong. I myself have had a scary experience with a pack of wild dogs, there can be flash floods, landslides and some years ago a hiking QF steward was found after 3 days dead of a heart attack.

There are also snakes including cobras, and I have heard anecdotal evidence of a hiker being chased by a very large python. There may also be some not-so-nice humans too, including desperate illegal immigrants living off the land.

I think it can be assumed that every poster on this thread hopes for the best for Captain Morrissey; if they were not they would certainly would be 'weirdos'. It just doesn't have to be thrashed to death by the self-righteous and and the religious who only waste bandwidth.

[The Wraith]

Well said Captain Dart!!!:ok:

[HKPAX]

RTHK reports a body found near Tai Mei Tuk, not yet identified but it seems to be a sad ending to this.

[hkgmjq]

Body of missing NZ pilot found in Tai Po

Regina Leung
5:55pm, Aug 11, 2010

After several days of searches, police and rescue teams on Wednesday afternoon found the body of a missing Air New Zealand pilot in Pat Sin Leng Country Park in Tai Po, a police spokesman said.

Stephen John Morrissey, 51 went missing last Wednesday while hiking in the area with a fellow pilot from the airline.

About 2.40pm, police found his body down a hillside near a lake in Pat Sin Leng Country Park.

Police contacted Morrissey's family and friends, who identified the body on Wednesday afternoon. The New Zealander’s mobile phone, camera and a backpack were found near his body, local media reported.

Morrissey went hiking from Tai Po to Pat Sin Leng Country Park with Captain Mark Apperley last Wednesday morning.

Apperley said that when they reached Spring Breeze Pavilion, a rain shelter on the southern slope of Hsien Ku Fung, the pair separated. This was because Morrisey ran out of water and wanted to buy some from below a nearby hill, Apperley said.

The men had arranged to meet at a bus stop in Wong Chuk Tsuen. But after waiting for some time, Apperley returned to his hotel and called police on Wednesday evening.

Police, Government Flying Service officers and sniffer dogs began searching for Morrissey last Thursday. They took recent photos of the pilot and placed notices with his photo at points along the country park.

Members of Morrissey’s family and friends joined in the search which continued over the weekend until Wednesday.

[noooby]

RIP Chook. I enjoyed flying with you.

[Dodgy Boy]

Chook, it was an absolute pleasure to have flown with you, your dry whit always brightened up the day and seeing your name on the roster always assured a pleasant day out around the traps on the Metro.
May you rest in peace.