Night search for English tramper

Robert Atkin

Searchers for an English tramper lost in rugged bush on the Coromandel Peninsula were out with torches last night, hoping he would see the lights and respond.

The night search came after another fruitless day looking for Robert Atkin, 26, who did not return from a day tramp in the Kauaeranga Valley near Thames last Wednesday.

Rescue co-ordinator Sergeant Jim Corbett said Mr Atkin appeared to be heading up the Rangihau Stream, making the task of searchers more difficult.

"We would have hoped Mr Atkin would have stayed put in one place, but it appears he may have continued on into deeper bush," he said.

"We have lost the trail we initially picked up and the search is becoming more and more difficult."

Yesterday about 50 searchers focused on the Rangihau Valley, which Mr Corbett said was among the most dangerous terrain on the Coromandel Peninsula.

Although rain and low cloud had made searching difficult, the weather cleared enough yesterday for searchers to revise their decision to stop the search at nightfall.

Mr Atkin is believed to have no food and be dressed only in light clothing. He is considered an experienced tramper, but not in New Zealand terrain.

New search teams from Auckland and the Waitomo area were brought in yesterday to relieve the Thames and Hamilton teams, which had been looking for Mr Atkin since he was reported missing on Wednesday night.

- STAFF REPORTERS, NZPA