Army Unimog search hits snag

Police hope the data collected by an underwater salvage expert yesterday will reveal the location of the Army Unimog which sank in the Kawarau River near Cromwell last week, killing three soldiers.

The underwater metal detector was initially dragged through the water by a helicopter to try to pinpoint the truck wreckage until it was discovered the aircraft was interfering with the detector's readings.

Sweeping the area where the Unimog is most likely to be was then completed by hand from the shore.

Cromwell Police Sergeant Steve Ereckson said the recovery of the Unimog itself was secondary to the recovery of the bodies of Shane Ohlen and David Partington, who are likely to have been caught in the wreckage.

Their colleague Ashley Goodwin was thrown clear of the truck after it left the road and crashed down the 100m bank, before sinking in the river.

A funeral for Private Goodwin was held in his hometown of Motueka on Monday.

Divers have been unable to search the middle of the river of the swift current.

Police had already decided not to try to reduce the water flow by shutting the Kawarau Falls control gates, as they have not been used for 10 years.

Police say the measure was unlikely to have any significant effect in revealing the crash site area and the risk to public safety was too great.

Sergeant Ereckson said other search options would be reviewed today. He would not comment on the possible outcome of the metal detector sweeps.

Before the search began yesterday morning he said he did not want to raise hopes that the detector would locate the truck and the bodies, but it was important to "give it a try".