Missing boy: Underwater camera used in search

Mike Zhao-Beckenridge. Photo / supplied

Dangerous sea conditions mean the search for a missing 11-year-old boy and his stepfather will involve an underwater camera attached to a helicopter, police said today.

The search for Michael Zhao-Beckenridge and his estranged stepfather John Beckenridge will continue in the morning.

Car parts belonging to Mr Beckenridge have washed up in Curio Bay, in Southland, which sparked grave fears for his and his Michael's safety.

Michael's backpack was also found in the area.

Atrocious weather conditions had stopped the underwater search for the pair, but police had not given up hope they were safe and well.

The last time Michael was seen was on March 13, when his estranged stepfather with a parenting order against him, picked him up from school in Invercargill.

Southland area commander Inspector Kelvin Lloyd said members of the Police National Dive Team would be returning to Invercargill this evening to attempt the deployment of the underwater camera in Curio Bay tomorrow.

"The camera will be attached to a helicopter and we hope this will help us to get visual confirmation of what may be in the water."

One line of inquiry police were looking into was whether Mr Beckenridge pushed the vehicle off an 88m cliff above the bay into the sea to serve as a red herring and the pair were safe, Mr Lloyd said.

"That's our hope actually and the car in the water -- we're confident that it's there -- but that doesn't mean there's anybody with it."

The rough weather conditions had postponed an underwater search but a shoreline search was continuing, Mr Lloyd said.

"We're just making an assessment at the moment as to when we will put a chopper up to do a further aerial search."

Weather and tide conditions were dictating the extent of the search, he said.

"It's still pretty atrocious out there at the moment. We're also looking at the moment whether we can obtain any underwater camera equipment to see if that can assist -- we're exhausting every option that we can think of at the moment to try to get something in the water to give us an idea of what's down there."

Yesterday, visibility in the water was about 40cm and divers described conditions as like "diving in a washing machine".

Michael's mother was under extreme stress but dealing with the situation "as best she can", Mr Lloyd said.

Police had not yet spoken with Michael's school about its role, but that would be part of the "wider inquiry".

Mr Lloyd would not say if Mr Beckenridge was on the police radar before this incident.

Michael was 1.65m tall, of solid build and of Asian descent. Mr Beckenridge was 1.75m tall, of medium build and of Swedish descent.

Mr Beckenridge was also known as John Robert Lundh, Knut Goran Roland Lundh, or John Bradford.

Anyone with information that might assist in locating the pair should contact the Southern District Command Centre on 03 471-5002.

Information can also be provided anonymously to the organisation Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.