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GREYMOUTH - An ice shift overnight at Fox Glacier where two Australian brothers were killed has prompted searchers to examine whether the missing body can be recovered today.
Constable Neil Gillespie, of Hokitika police, said today a "significant ice shift" occurred overnight.
A helicopter was due to take to the skies late this morning.
"The helicopter will search the terminal face and the Fox River to see if the body has moved.
"The warm rain last night has moved a lot of ice where the body is believed to be trapped."
Mr Gillespie said the Department of Conservation and glacier guides from the area were monitoring the river during daylight in case the body had been washed away.
The body of Ashish Miranda, a 24-year-old Boeing aerospace engineer, was recovered on Thursday, but the search for his brother, Akshay Miranda, a 22-year-old student, was halted on Thursday because of dangerous conditions.
More than 100 tonnes of ice was believed to have fallen on the men, who crossed safety barriers at the terminal face to take photos around 4.20pm.
Australian Associated Press reported yesterday that friends had begun posting tributes on Akshay's Facebook web page, describing the Monash University science and engineering student as "a true friend" who fitted in straight away when his family arrived in Australia from Mumbai in 2000.
"You have always been a great friend," one post said.
A university friend wrote: "I can't believe this. You were always the most friendly and truest of friends, always had time for people and loved by everyone.
"Going to uni will not be the same without running into you."
Ashish studied engineering at RMIT University in Melbourne and was one of 10 students in 2006 to win second place in an international competition for helicopter design.
Family of the brothers were due to fly back to Australia tomorrow morning.
- NZPA
