No sign of missing trampers as search continues overnight

Wednesday, 20 May 2020

Police are continuing the search for trampers Dion Reynolds, pictured, who did not return at the scheduled time after entering Kahurangi Park on May 9.

Rescue teams have come up empty-handed so far in their search for two missing trampers in the Anatori Valley.

Jessica O'Connor and Dion Reynolds, both 23, failed to return from a tramp in Kahurangi National Park after setting out on 9 May.

Search and Rescue coordinator Dave Cogger of Nelson Police said the search was set to continue overnight and would resume on Thursday morning.

Cogger said search teams would be 'casting the net wider' on Thursday, checking out areas further inland and on the coast – including the Kahurangi Lighthouse.

He said freedom campers and other people in the area had been interviewed on Wednesday.

“Witness statements have pointed to them heading up the Anatori River, shy of a destination or an exact return date.”

The search will be boosted on Thursday with the addition of a FENZ command vehicle, and an infrared sensing drone from Christchurch.

Five teams made up of Golden Bay, Motueka, Nelson LandSAR volunteers and Police staff searched the Anatori River area on Wednesday.

A specialist search dog from Blenheim is also assisting with the search.

The pair are understood to have entered the Anatori River car park.

Cogger said a resident on a nearby farm had reported seeing two people matching the pair's description around the time they left the Anatori carpark.

Both were carrying large packs and appeared to be dressed appropriately for the conditions.

Police are searching for trampers Jessica O'Connor who entered Kahurangi Park on May 9.

A quantity of food found inside the car also indicated that they had packed accordingly for the capacity of their trip.

It is not known if the pair had a locator beacon with them on their walk, although there had been no activations in the area, Cogger said.

It was understood O'Connor had hired locator beacons on previous occasions.

Despite the cooler May temperatures, Cogger said the weather had been good while the pair were believed to have been in the bush.

The rivers have been very low and no clues would have been lost to rainfall or geological factors, he said.

'As with any case, we are working hard to identify any sign of the missing persons - we know the size of Jess's feet and the tread she was likely to have on her footwear, but so far we have not found any footprints that match those particular features.'

Located in north-west of Nelson on the West Coast of the South Island, the rugged country provided a challenging trek for even experienced trampers.

Cogger said there were no tramping huts in the search area and the terrain consisted of largely unmarked tracks.

However, some previous goldmining activity in the area had created some accessible paths.

'There is also an old Bullock track which has become overgrown in time - but there's certainly no Great Walk trails,' Cogger said.

Golden Bay historian and keen tramper Gerard Hindmarsh said the Anatori Goldfields had a reputation for being 'pretty vicious country'.

Both trampers resided in the Nelson region, with Reynolds living in Golden Bay and O'Connor working as a guide in Marahau.

O'Connor's workmates said while they were concerned for her, they were comforted by the fact she was competent and experienced in the outdoors.

O'Connor had worked in Nelson at Yaza Cafe.

Former workmate Beth O'Farrell said O'Connor was very resourceful and smart when it came to the outdoors.

'If she hadn't been due back by just a day or so we wouldn't be too worried - but the fact that it's been longer is kind of scary.'

Abel Tasman Kayaks owner Jack Kelly said O'Connor had worked for them for the past few years in a seasonal capacity, and with other team members had been doing some remote work during the lockdown.

He referred all other questions to police.

In her profile on the Abel Tasman Kayaks website, O'Connor said her association with the area had gone back four years and she had been working there for three of those.

'I am passionate about nature and working in the outdoors … No standout experience for me, I'm stoked that I get to be out there every day.'

Police are asking for anyone who has been around the Anatori, Frazer, Webb and Independent Streams and the Kokopu Creek since 8 May and who may have seen the pair to get in touch.

Anyone with information should contact Police on 105 and quote event number P042228949.

MORE TO COME