Wind Gust Increase As Search For Missing Tramper Continues

New Zealand Police National News Release
11:00am 7 June 2008
http://www.police.govt.nz/news/release.html?id=3983
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Wind gusts are buffeting some of the teams as they push their way through rugged bush,gullies and streams in the search for missing Polish tramper Jacek Grzybowski.

It's now a week since the 28-year-old computer software engineer went on a planned day trip into the Rimutaka Forest Park, possibly heading for Mt Matthews, one of the park's highest points.

It's an ambitious return walk in a day at this time of year and it's possible Mr Grzybowski has been caught out by the dark, or slipped and fallen off one of the many tracks in the area.

Seven police and NZ Land SAR teams from Wellington, Levin, Palmerston North, and the Wairarapa stayed in the bush overnight but so far there has been no sign of the missing man.

Fresh teams are are joining the search today and walking or are being flown into hard to reach areas today by an Air Force Iroquois helicopter. Wind gusts are increasing in the area which is making it more difficult for searchers on the exposed ridges.

The search focus continues in the high probability areas around the Whakanui and McKerrow tracks, the creeks, streams and gullies running off those. Another key area is Mt Matthews,

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