KEY POINTS:
The family of an Otago woman missing for more than 36 hours on the Catlins coast still hold out hope she will be found safe and well, despite an extensive search and rescue operation failing to find any trace of her.
Maree Joan Gorton, 54, of Milton, who is holidaying with family on Tautuku Peninsula, about 10km south of Owaka, went for her usual daily walk about 10am Thursday but failed to return to her family who conducted their own search about 8pm that night before raising the alarm at 10pm.
Mrs Gorton's husband, David, and daughter Karina said yesterday they were staying positive despite failed attempts to find her so far.
"You have to keep your hopes up, you just have to," Ms Gorton said.
A team of search and rescue volunteers and police, together with staff from the Lion Foundation Rescue Helicopter, began aerial and ground searches of the nearby coastline and bush areas on Thursday night but there was no sign of Mrs Gorton.
A Helicopters Otago craft joined the 50-strong team of searchers yesterday. Police last night expressed grave concern for Mrs Gorton's wellbeing.
She was last seen wearing jeans, a yellow parka coat and carrying a light day pack. Another full search is expected to be staged at first light today.
- OTAGO DAILY TIMES
