Fed: Search resumes for kayaker

AAP General News (Australia)
02-12-2007
Fed: Search resumes for kayaker

SYDNEY, Feb 12 AAP - Two planes have this morning resumed the search for missing trans-Tasman
kayaker Andrew McAuley off the South Island of New Zealand.

The Rescue Coordination Centre of New Zealand decided this morning to continue their
search for Mr McAuley, whose upturned kayak was spotted by a NZ Air Force plane on Saturday
afternoon.

Two private, fixed-wing aircraft are searching for Mr McAuley, and his family is holding
out hope that he is still alive.

But Annie Lattey from the RCCNZ said today would be the final day of the search after
a meeting this morning.

"It (the meeting) is a normal process with a search of this nature," Ms Lattey said.

"If Andrew is not found in the course of today, it is our intention to suspend the search."

The 39-year-old Australian's upturned kayak was spotted by a New Zealand air force
plane sat afternoon in rough seas about 75km off Milford Sound.

There was no sign Mr McAuley, who had been expected to arrive in Milford Sound yesterday
after leaving Tasmania on January 11 in an attempt to become the first person to paddle
across the Tasman in a kayak.

Concerns about his safety emerged after New Zealand maritime authorities picked up
a garbled distress message on Friday night.

Family spokeswoman Jen Peedom said today the Australian government was involved and
urging authorities to continue the search.

"He's (McAuley) been out there a long time and I can say from being here they (NZ rescuers)
are doing a really amazing job," she told the Seven Network.

"The decision is not being made down here, it's being made in Wellington, I've been
told, but the Australian Consul-General has come out here, he's putting political pressure
on to try and keep things going."

Ms Peedom said the family had examined the kayak yesterday but they still did not have
a definite answer as to what happened to the Australian.

"I think we are still a very long way from understanding exactly what happened, particularly
that close to the shore after going through such heavy waves and ridiculous weather to
something that was relatively calm," Ms Peedom said.

"What it appears, in broad strokes, he was definitely hit by a wave while he didn't
have the bubble on, that's capsized him and he's been separated from the boat."

Mr McAuley's friend Ben Deacon said no decision had been made as to whether his family
would mount their own search if rescue crews abandoned theirs.

"We haven't discussed that yet," he told the Nine Network.

"The Kiwis have been very generous in the resources they've put behind the rescue.

We don't have the money to privately charter an orion aircraft."

Part of his support crew, Jonathan Bogais said Friday's weather appeared to provide
Mr McAuley with perfect conditions to reach the shore.

The conditions for him on Friday last week were for him very good because he wanted
a west-south-west wind to push him toward the coast," Mr Bogais said.

"What he got was a ... south-west with a swell coming from the same direction, so they
were ideal conditions.

Mr Bogais said the Australian had survived difficult conditions only the week before.

AAP nr/maur/jlw/

KEYWORD: NZ KAYAK SECOND DAYLEAD

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