Family wish they had chance for goodbye
been incredibly difficult.
He said the hot water and its geothermal nature meant standard underwater equipment could not withstand the conditions.
There are health and safety issues that need to be considered for staff and caution had been raised by Geological and Nuclear Sciences staff to tread carefully, as disruption to the area could trigger a geothermal eruption.
Gillbanks said the team had completed three search efforts using a camera encased in a customdesigned box made by Rotorua company Plastic Solutions.
He said the case was made of highdensity Perspex that could withstand the water temperate.
Several ropes were attached to the case and six staff members were stationed at a safe distance around the hot pool.
They co-ordinated their movement lowering the box into the pool to capture images underwater.
He said some staff had to be harnessed to other staff or fences and metal poles to ensure their safety.
“Health and safety was a major concern with police staff getting exposed to the water’s temperature or even worse, falling in. We had to work at a distance so we weren’t right on the edge of the hot pool. It’s a difficult area because it’s high at one end and low at the other and there’s water running out of it. If you get close, there’s hot water running under your feet.”
The footage was being analysed by police but so far nothing could be found to link to the missing man.
Police were particularly looking for clothing or footwear they knew the man was wearing on the day he went missing.
He said the nature of the environment
Health and safety was a major concern with police staff getting exposed to the water’s temperature or even worse, falling in.
Inspector Phil Gillbanks
meant DNA matches were unlikely to be accurate.
Gillbanks said the missing man’s bank account had not been touched since February 13.
He said police were now looking at other equipment options and what other search options were available.
“We are still weighing things up around how much we can do.”