Search for missing boatie on Lake Hauroko called off indefinitely
Wednesday, 26 June 2019
The search for the missing boatie on Lake Hauroko has been suspended indefinitely.
Police and partners have searched the lake multiple times since the boat was reported missing on May 31.
Two people were onboard the boat on Lake Hauroko, in the Fiordland National Park, when they went missing.
The two people were understood to be Michael Goodson and Rosemary Spiewak, of Christchurch.
A woman's body was found on June 1, however the missing man has not been located.
On Wednesday, police called the search off but said they would continue to assess any new information that comes to light and act accordingly.
**READ MORE:
* Search for missing boat, person to continue on Lake Hauroko
* Rāhui placed on Southland's Lake Hauroko after death of Christchurch couple
* Christchurch parish mourns pair in fatal Lake Hauroko boating incident**
The circumstances of the fatal boating incident remains unclear.
A two-day search was held last week and afterwards police said they had exhausted their capabilities.
Police recovered the removable seats from the boat on June 3, and last week found cooking utensils and items of clothing.
Invercargill Sergeant Ian Martin, the officer in charge of the search, said 'it is still unclear what happened to the boat.'
The woman did not have any injuries which could provide a clue of what happened on the lake, Martin said.
'Until we find the boat, it's a guessing game.'
If the man had drowned, it was expected his body would float to the surface, he said.
The boat was believed to be an old fibreglass vessel without flotation aids built in and would easily sink.
Visibility for the 10-man diving team had been quite good during the two days of searching.
However, the five team could not use radars because of the steepness of the riverbed and natural debris on the floor.