Family hires helicopter in search for Auckland university student Laurence Wu

Thursday, 28 March 2019

Auckland student Laurence Wu has been missing since March 10.

The family of a missing university student hired a helicopter to scour a beach in their 'desperate' attempt to find him.

Guoquan Wu, 22, also known as Laurence, was last seen about 1.40pm on March 10 at St Lukes Liquor Centre in Auckland.

A friend who reported Wu's disappearance, Sandy Li, said Wu had called his ex-girlfriend and told her he was going to Piha.

Wu's car, a grey Hyundai Sante Fe, was found on Marine Parade in the early hours of March 12.

Wu's brother Lucas Wu said the family had flown from China to Auckland on March 15.

In an attempt to find the 22-year-old, the family had searched the area for a week, put up posters around Piha and hired a helicopter to search the beach, he said.

'Right now, all we can do is wait – we've been out there, we've been out to Piha and places where we think my brother can be,' Lucas Wu said.

'We've checked everywhere and there's nothing so far.'

Police want to hear from anyone who saw Wu's car, a grey Hyundai Sante Fe, between March 10 and March 12.

The family felt 'hopeless' but they planned to keep looking for Wu, including hiring a boat, he said.

Wu said his brother was outgoing, funny, and not the sort of person to disappear.

In a police statement, Wu's father said he was desperate to find his son.

'He is just so young and about to graduate from university. Please help us find him.'

Wu's friend, Sandy Li, said they had gone to Chancery Square in Auckland's CBD on March 9 at about 9pm.

They left Chancery Square an hour later and went to karaoke until midnight.

Li said her friend was 'really sad' that evening and she dropped him off home.

On Sunday, Li got in contact with Wu at 11am but after that, she stopped hearing from him.

Laurence Wu was last seen at St Lukes Liquor Centre in Auckland's Sainsbury Rd.

'On Monday night, we had a friend from Wellington tell us that they could not find him,' Li said.

'I called Laurence but his phone went straight to voicemail.'

Li and some other friends drove to the police station in the city to make a report at 11.30pm.

Their friend from Wellington had been contacted by Wu's ex-girlfriend who received a call from the student at 4pm on Sunday and had not seen her that night, she said.

'She called my Wellington friend to find him.

'He told her that he was going to Piha,' Li said.

After heading to the police station, Li and some friends decided to drive to Piha, where they found his car at 1am on Tuesday.

'We called police again and the helicopter came – I was a bit scared.'

Wu is described as 178cm tall, of medium build with short black hair, brown eyes and he also wears glasses.

A police spokeswoman said police were still conducting 'a number of lines of enquiry' into Wu's disappearance.

Police also did another search of Piha and surrounding areas this week, she said.

'Police have spoken to his family and friends to establish his movements leading up to his disappearance, and anyone who has been in touch with him who has not made contact with Police is asked to contact us.'

Anyone with information can contact Sergeant Tania Kingi from Avondale Police on 09 302 6400. You can also call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.