Man missing after capsize

Press, 12 April 1982, Page 1

Man missing after capsize

PA Opotiki An Auckland man is missing after a week-end of white-water danger on the Motu River in the eastern Bay of Plenty. William Francis Holt, aged 35, of Auckland, was the subject of a big search yesterday. after a rescue effort which brought out dozens of people from the rugged bush country of the region. The search will continue today. Sergeant R. Farquahar. of the Opotiki police, said that at one stage on Saturday the police knew of 52 people in the area, which was lashed by torrential rain during Friday afternoon and night. At one stage the river had been about four metres above its normal level, primarily as a result of an unexpectedly high surge of waler from tributaries. Early last evening the Motu's’ levels were falling, said Sergeant Farquahar. and he expected no trouble today, when three search and rescue rafts are due to go down the river from Opotiki to find Mr Holt. Sergeant Farquahar said

Mr Holt had been seen last by colleagues among a raft party of 19 about 5.30 p.m. on Friday after their craft had capsized. A search on Saturday afternoon and yesterday accounted for Mr Holt's 18 companions as well as those in a.parly of 11 whose raft had also capsized on Friday. Two helicopters were used in the search on Saturday and one light helicopter owned by an Opotiki man. Mr Reg Elwood, crashed when going to pick up four stranded lAinters. The hunting party made its own way out yesterday morning but Mr Elwood was recovering from a broken arm suffered in the crash. Sergeant Farquahar said the machine had been blown by a gust of wind into trees. He said an R.N.Z.A.F. helicopter shuttled about 20 people out of the area yesterday. Most had been trapped by’ fallen trees and landslides which blocked roads. He said the party of 19 people had been on a com-pany-directed adventure tour. It was unlikely, he said, that the roads in the district would be cleared for several days.