Helicopter and drones used in search for missing British tramper Stephanie Simpson

Wednesday, 12 February 2020

British woman Stephanie Simpson was overdue from a hike and hadn't been seen since Friday last week. (Video first published 12 February 2020).

Drones with thermal imaging, local land search and rescue, additional rescue teams and a helicopter will be used in the search for missing tramper Stephanie Simpson.

The 32-year-old was reported missing on Monday after she failed to return from a hike in the Mt Aspiring National park area and did not arrive at work.

The search on Wednesday will focus on the area from Fantail Falls to Mt Brewster, the Brewster Hut and Mt Armstrong track, and Makarora Valley, police said in a statement.

It was a large search area and much of it was difficult terrain, so search teams remained in the area overnight Tuesday.

The body of British tramper Stephanie Simpson has been found after she failed to return from a hike in Mt Aspiring National Park.

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Police still wanted to hear from anyone who stayed in the Cameron Flat area on Friday and saw or spoke to Simpson, and anyone who may have seen her on the track from Fantail Falls to Mt Armstrong, or in Makarora Valley.

A police spokeswoman said a helicopter had been used in a search on Monday evening and inquiries had helped them narrow down the search area.

A ground search was carried out on Tuesday but turned up no signs of the missing tramper.

A social media post on numerous public South Island community Facebook groups said Simpson planned to hike to Brewster Hut, north of Lake Wanaka in Mt Aspiring National Park, then to Makarora's Blue Pools on Saturday.

Friends and family had been unable to contact her since Friday lunchtime.

Simpson's brother-in-law, Sam Hazelton, told Sky News the last time the family heard from her was on the family WhatsApp group early on Thursday morning.

'She contacted her friends after that on the Friday to say she was going hiking and camping.

'This was something Stephanie would do most weekends, it was her main reason for staying in Wanaka in New Zealand as it offered so many different trails.'

Hazelton told Sky News Simpson was 'very competent and physically fit'.

'She is relatively experienced in outdoor activities and has already completed a number of hikes. She is such a fun-loving, kind, determined and adventurous woman, we are asking anyone who might know anything to please get in touch with police.

'We are all so worried and desperate for information.'

Police said there had been two sightings of Simpson on the trail, but the family did not have any further details, Hazelton told Sky News.

Simpson works as a landscape gardener at Doug the Gardener in Wanaka.

Simpson, 32, went missing while tramping in Mt Aspiring National Park.

Her boss, Doug Peddle, told RNZ he had expected her to be at work on Monday morning.

He contacted police when she did not turn up and after confirming her friends did not know where she was.

Simpson was keen to explore New Zealand while on a working holiday, and had the experience and equipment, Peddle told RNZ.

'She's very fit and healthy, came over from the UK and was keen to explore everything this region has to offer. She'd been doing some tramps in the area and went away last weekend.'

He had been in contact with her family and said they were concerned but were trying to stay positive.

In an unrelated case, the bodies of two trampers were found in the Makarora River on Friday and Saturday. Police have not yet released their names.

Last week, torrential rain struck the area and caused slips and flooding throughout Southland and Fiordland.

A state of emergency for both Southland and Fiordland has been extended for another week.

Anyone with information about Simpson's whereabouts should call police on 105 and quote file 200211/4896.