Body found in Lake Benmore
Duane Schroeder has been amazed by the selflessness of people who helped search for his friend George Agnew, who went missing on Lake Benmore over a week ago.
Agnew’s body was found in the Haldon Arm of the lake in the Mackenzie district of the South Island at 9.15am yesterday, after a five-day search.
Constable Les Andrews of Twizel police said the 66-year-old Methven man was last seen on the lake a week ago. His boat was found abandoned on the lake on Saturday morning and his dog was on shore next to his car.
A formal identification process would be carried out to determine identity, a police statement said.
The matter would then be referred to the Coroner.
A statement released on behalf of Agnew’s family said his body was found in the lake.
‘‘The search is over and just after 9am today George’s body was found in Lake Benmore.
‘‘On behalf of the family a massive thank you to all the volunteers and those from around New Zealand and the world who have generously donated to the search fund for George,’’ the family statement said.
Schroeder, who co-ordinated the search and rescue operation, said over 50 people had been on the water in ‘‘every type of watercraft’’.
‘‘We had boats, people on the land, jetskis, helicopters, stand up paddleboards, jetboats, just every type of watercraft,’’ said Schroeder.
The search effort and support from the community had been ‘‘phenomenal’’.
‘‘The whole effort, it restores your faith in human kind.’’
The generosity showed the ‘‘selflessness of people all over’’.
A Givealittle page raising funds to extend the search for Agnew had reached $16,745 by 12.30pm yesterday.
The result was not what they had wanted but at least now the family had closure, he said.