Riverbed search
The police are no longer mystified by the big “Xi shaped” sign—an international distress symbol—which they found on a shingle island in the middle of the Rakaia riverbed last evening. The sign was seen about 5 p.m. yesterday by the pilot of a Royal New Zealand Air Force Airtrainer returning to Wigram after a flight over Mid-Canter-bury. The pilot alterted his
base by rad: •>, and the police launched a search involving policemen from Ashburton, a police dog from Christchurch, and members of the Rakaia jetboat search and rescue group. The search was about to be called off when the search and rescue group found the sign about 9.30 p.m. It was on the northwestern tip of “Great Island,” a shingle bed on the northern side of the
river about half-way between the main road bridge and the sea. An “X” sign facing skywards is regarded internationally as meaning “in trouble: unable to proceed.” The police said the material found near the cross was polythene. They also said the Army had been exercising in the area several weeks ago. Local residents said the sign had been there on Tuesday.
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Press, 28 August 1980, Page 1
Word Count
190Riverbed search Press, 28 August 1980, Page 1
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