Greymouth, NZ — A major search and rescue operation is under way in Greymouth after a report that a person was swept out to sea on Saturday evening.
Senior Sergeant Mark Kirkwood of West Coast Search and Rescue confirmed that emergency services were alerted around 6pm on Saturday after witnesses reported seeing someone carried out by the tide in the Greymouth/Blaketown area.
A large-scale response was launched, involving Police, Fire and Emergency New Zealand, Kotuku Surf Lifesaving, and Garden City Helicopters.
Search teams worked across the shoreline and offshore through Saturday evening and into today.
Among the assets deployed was the Emily B Drifter, a device used to simulate how a person in the water may drift, helping teams to predict likely search areas.
At approximately 7:30pm, a kayak was found washed up near Blaketown.
Police are now working to determine whether the kayak is linked to the person seen in the water.
“We are asking anybody who recognises this kayak, or who has not heard from someone who was kayaking in Greymouth yesterday, 7 March, to contact Police,” Senior Sergeant Kirkwood said.
Members of the public with information are urged to call 105 and quote reference number P065678948.
Search efforts are continuing.
