Helicopter company offers free flight to family of missing Marlborough woman

Wednesday, 27 March 2019

The family of a missing Marlborough woman will scour a forest park from the air on Thursday morning after a helicopter company offered them a free flight.

Precision Helicopters has stepped in to help after the family of Renwick woman Jessica Boyce made a public appeal for people with 'certain items and skill sets' to come forward as they continued to look for the 27-year-old.

Precision Helicopters chief executive Tanya Andrews said a pilot would fly three family members over the wider Lake Chalice area, west of Blenheim, on Thursday.

The company got involved because they had been helping Land Search and Rescue teams over the weekend, and wanted to keep helping, Andrews said.

**READ MORE: 

* Police seek help from public in search for missing Marlborough woman

* Search teams battle difficult terrain in search for missing Marlborough woman

* Fears rain could hamper family search as LandSAR search suspended**

Boyce's red Holden ute was found near Lake Chalice. She was last seen eight days ago.

A family statement posted to Facebook on Wednesday asked for long-range walkie talkies, an aerial drone and pilot, and GPS trackers.

Land Search and Rescue suspended its search for Boyce on Tuesday, but friends and family were continuing with their 'own efforts'.

The family statement said they would continue to search the 'primary area of interest', but asked for the public to also look for Boyce at other popular bush areas across Marlborough and Nelson.

'Our search has taken us up mountains, through rivers, and through vast amounts of bush,' the statement said.

'We are moving as fast as we can, while being careful to be methodical in our search.'

The family thanked police and LandSAR for their efforts over the weekend.

'Those working behind the scenes have been fantastic, and we are so grateful to members of the public who have come forward with information that is helping in the search for Jess,' the statement said.

'We can't put into words the depth of the gratitude we have for you all.'

The statement also asked vineyard owners and workers in the upper South Island to keep an eye out for Boyce, as she was fond of being around those areas.

'While Jess can be resourceful when the time calls, it has now been eight days since she left home and we are growing increasingly apprehensive.'

A police spokeswoman said on Wednesday there were 'no developments' and she was not aware of any active search and rescue teams.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Blenheim police on 03 578 5279.

Areas to look out for:


Whites Bay

Wairau River

The Diversion

Rarangi Beach

Robin Hood Bay

Taylor River Reserve

Queen Charlotte Drive

Wairau Lagoons Walkway


Takaka

Ruby Bay

Richmond