Search for diver suspended
Police look in the direction of Gull Rocks, off the coast of Sandfly Bay on Otago Peninsula, where a free diver went missing about 7pm yesterday. A search involving police, coastguard and the Otago Regional Rescue Helicopter failed to locate the missing man and was suspended late last night.
RESCUERS last night could not find a free diver who failed to surface near Gull Rocks off the coast from Sandfly Bay on Otago Peninsula.
The coastguard, police, water rescue personnel and the Otago Regional Rescue Helicopter were involved in the search, which was launched just before 7pm after the diver failed to surface near Gull Rocks, which are off the coast on the eastern side of Sandfly Bay.
A police spokeswoman said the search was suspended at 9.45pm and the diver’s next of kin had been advised he was missing and were being offered support.
The search would resume this morning.
It is understood the Wellingtonbased New Zealand Police dive squad will be arriving in the city before noon today.
Coastguard onshore coordinator Lox Kellas, who helped run the search from the Sandfly Bay car park, said conditions were not particu larly rough, but a northerly current ran up the coast where the diver went missing.
The diver launched from an inflatable boat and it is understood a fellow diver called emergency services after the diver failed to surface.
From the car park an inflatable boat with four people on board could be seen dropping down an anchor and buoy on the spot where the diver was last seen.
The boat left the area not long after the helicopter arrived at 7.35pm.
The helicopter scanned the area with the help of a searchlight.
It dropped off water rescue personnel on a rock near the buoy.
A coastguard boat arrived about 8.10pm and began helping with the search.
vaughan.elder@odt.co.nz