"Makarora River - Wanaka"

Wanaka Police Search and Rescue in conjunction with Wanaka Land Search and Rescue and Wanaka Coast Guard are currently involved in a search for a missing 63 year old male who went fly fishing at the mouth of the Makarora River yesterday.

The missing person is Ken Copeland from Wanaka who wnet fly-fishing alone and didn't return home when he had arranged yesterday afternoon. Family members raised the alarm and a search was activated last night. A 'tracking' team was deployed along with a helecopter with night vision equipment.

A fly fishing back-pack and Labrador dog belonging to Mr Copeland were found on a gravel island at the mouth of the Makarora River early this morning, along with a set of footprints leading into the water where the main river flow goes into the lake.

The search continued today with an extensive aerial and shore line search being conducted this morning, with no further signs discovered of Mr Copeland.

A boat with sonar equipment has also been deployed, focusing its search at at the mouth of the Makarora River where it meets Lake Wanaka.

Senior Constable Mike Johnston said that it looks like Mr Copeland has wadded into the water and onto a terrace off the gravel island that boarders the main river flow and the head of the lake.

All indications are that he has slipped off the edge of the terrace and into the flow of the river and into the head of the lake.

ENDS

© Scoop Media