Infrared drones used for trampers search

NELSON: Search and rescue teams are utilising infrared drones as they continue to look for two missing trampers in the Kahurangi National Park.

Jessica O’Connor and Dion Reynolds (both 23), from the Tasman area, started out on May 9 but last night had yet to return.

They were understood to have entered at the Anatori River car park.

Senior Constable David Cogger, of Tasman yesterday said they had found very few clues but believed the trampers were well prepared.

‘‘We have [been] continuing on with the inquiry phase trying to track down and interview and reinterview persons that were at the Nikau Point or Anatori Rd end car park, and those inquiries are ongoing,’’ he said.

‘‘The search teams have located numerous footprints in the environment, but it’s hard to confirm whether these are or not Jess and Dion’s footprints.’’

Sen Const Cogger believed the trampers were well prepared, based on information gathered so far.

‘‘From our background inquiries Jess is a very competent outdoor practitioner.

‘‘She’s got academic qualifications and works in the outdoor industry,’’ he said.

‘‘The witness sighting said they were well prepared, had good gear and they seemed to be carrying packs with enough food to sustain themselves for quite a while.

‘‘The trouble [is], we have no firm intentions of where they were heading and when they were going to be heading out of the hills.’’

Sen Const Cogger said the drone would be supported by Fire and Emergency New Zealand district command truck.

The drone would try to perform a heat map of the Anatori River valley system overnight to see if anything could be investigated this morning — either on foot or by helicopter.