Body of missing pilot recovered from Lake Wanaka following search

Monday, 23 July 2018

Jonathan Wallis has made a promise to his missing brother, helicopter pilot Matthew Wallis: 'we will bring you home soon'. (Video published July 2018)

A body believed to be that of missing pilot Matthew Wallis has been retrieved from Lake Wanaka.

Wallis' helicopter crashed after leaving Wanaka Airport on a short solo flight to Mt Aspiring National Park on Saturday afternoon.

His body was retrieved from the water in the Stevenson's Arm area of the lake, along with some of the wreckage, by police and Navy divers around 10pm on Monday.

'This is the best possible outcome we could have hoped for in the circumstances, and we are glad to be able to bring some degree of closure to Matthew's family at this sad time', Detective Sergeant Derek Shaw said.

* Missing Wanaka pilot presumed dead as search enters recovery phase

* Warbirds Over Wanaka Airshow founders Tim and George Wallis recall first show**

'Police would like to thank the Wallis family, New Zealand Defence Force, LandSAR volunteers, the Wanaka community and the aviation industry for their assistance in this recovery operation.

'Matthew's family ask the media to please respect their privacy as they come to terms with their loss.'

Earlier, sonar searching of Lake Wanaka for Wallis' crashed helicopter had located an item 47 metres under water, but police at the time could not confirm it was the wreckage.

Remotely operated underwater vehicles had been used by the Navy to scan the lake bed using sonar equipment.

Family members had also been helping with the search, which had resumed first thing on Monday morning.

The search for the missing helicopter pilot Matt Wallis is resuming on Lake Wanaka. The son of the Warbirds Over Wanaka founder, Sir Tim Wallis, crashed into the lake near Stevensons Island on Saturday afternoon. He is presumed dead and the police

Detective Sergeant Derek Shaw told media on Sunday the search was now a recovery operation.

Jonathan Wallis told Radio NZ on Monday morning the area searchers believed his brother was in 'not as deep as other parts of the lake, but it still exceeds what would be normal, or routine, diving'.

The Police National Dive Squad resumed the search on Monday morning.

Pilot Matthew Timothy Wallis died after his helicopter crashed into Lake Wanaka.

The Police National Dive Squad on day 3 of the search for Matt Wallis.

Divers heading out onto Lake Wanaka on Monday afternoon.

He earlier said his brother was on a 'very routine' flight, on a route he had taken thousands of times before.

Matthew Wallis was the son of aviation pioneer and Warbirds Over Wanaka air show founder Sir Tim Wallis and his wife, Lady Wallis.

A police spokesperson said the matter would be referred to the Coroner and the Transport Accident Investigation Commission was investigating.