Jersey found in trampers’ search

A jersey has been found in the search for two missing trampers in Kahurangi National Park.

Jess O’Connor and Dion Reynolds have not been seen for 17 days, after entering the Anatori Valley to go tramping on May 9.

Roots Bar owner Holly Osmond said yesterday that police sent a photo to staff at the Takaka venue, of a jersey which had been found. They asked whether the item of clothing belonged to Reynolds. Reynolds worked as a chef at the bar over the summer.

Osmond said she and the other staff members did not recognise the jersey. However, she said she only saw Reynolds wearing t-shirts over the summer, so could not be sure it wasn’t his.

She was not aware where the items of clothing had been found.

Meanwhile, safety concerns for rescue teams have delayed the restart of the search for pair.

Police announced they would not be resuming the search yesterday, due to the ‘‘extremely hazardous terrain’’ in the search area. The search was postponed on Monday after heavy rain fell in the Anatori Valley on Sunday.

Search and Rescue teams have been looking for the pair for more than a week. The 23-year-olds had been living and working in the Tasman District before their disappearance, O’Connor as a kayak guide and Reynolds as a chef.

Tasman Police Search and Rescue officer Sergeant Malcolm York said there was expected to be ‘‘a big push’’ in the search today with specialist trackers, search dogs, and the use of RECCO search radar.

An experienced tramper has said the complex and inhospitable terrain in the Anatori Valley could be a stumbling block for those not used to it.

Backcountry tramper Paul Kilgour of Rangihaeta in Golden Bay had a teleconference with LandSAR’s team leaders last week, to discuss the terrain north of Anatori.

Kilgour, who has extensive experience tramping through the terrain, said Search and Rescue wanted to get an idea of the ‘‘complex’’ country. He said Search and Rescue had received information that the couple had told people they were planning to go up the Anatori and come out north at Sandhill Creek.