Where’s Kim?
Family’s frantic search
Searchers, friends and family will today continue scouring the rugged terrain and treacherous seas of Piha for missing woman Kim Bambus.
The 21-year-old told friends she was going for a run at the West Auckland beach on Friday morning but never came home. Her worried friends found her car with her cellphone still inside at 1am yesterday, parked at the entrance to Ahu Ahu Track, which traverses the vast cliff faces above the beach.
Police and search and rescue volunteers spent yesterday combing the area. They say they are concerned, because it is out of character for her not to be in touch with friends and family.
Teams abseiled down the sheer cliffs to look for any sign of Bambus. Helicopters also scanned the coastline, while Bambus’ family and friends anxiously waited at the track entrance hoping for news.
Her sister, Storm Bambus, said she got a call Friday night from one of Kim’s close friends saying she had not returned to her Ponsonby flat.
“I drove down and obviously the search and rescue started. There were helicopters all [Friday] night, dogs searching for her,” she said.
“We’re assuming that she went for a run or a walk there and she hasn’t been heard of since.”
Bambus had just started working as a registered nurse at Middlemore Hospital a few months ago.
“She’s awesome,” Storm said. “I couldn’t ask for a better sister.”
The family is from the Bay of Islands but Kim moved to Auckland about four years ago. Kim’s parents were on their boat off Great Barrier Island when they received news of her disappearance and sailed through the night to get back to Auckland. Storm said she last spoke to Kim midweek, and they chatted for about 45 minutes. Bambus was wearing a dark jacket, pink exercise top, black shorts and black and white Nike running shoes. Her hair was in a ponytail and she was carrying a large water bottle. She was last seen in Countdown in Williamson Ave, Ponsonby, buying snacks at 9am on Friday morning.
Inspector Kerry Watson said police did not know what had happened to Bambus.
“One possibility is that she has gone for a run and has fallen and hurt herself and can’t return.
“But until we find her we just cannot rule anything out so we’re adopting an open mind,” he said.
Land Search and Rescue spokesman Alan Wilkins hoped Bambus was safe and well, saying the biggest threat to her overnight could be the weather turning bad.
“It hasn't been too cold the past few nights but if the wind gets up and the rain comes down it could make things pretty uncomfortable for someone out in the bush.
“Fortunately water shouldn't be too much of a problem as there has been a lot of rain recently and there are a lot of streams in the area. The best thing to do is to find shelter for the night and to keep warm and dry.”
Anyone who may have seen Bambus should call Auckland Police on (09) 302 6400.