KEY POINTS:
Police continuing a search for a missing 72-year-old tramper in the Mount Aspiring National Park say his chances of survival are low.
Derek Hawkins, an English tourist who suffers from angina, set out from the Siberia Hut at 8am on Friday on a four-hour day hike to Crucible Hut and back.
Sergeant Aaron Nicholson of Wanaka said the track was well-used and quite busy.
Other trampers also staying at Siberia Hut raised the alarm with police when Mr Hawkins failed to return by 9pm.
"He was definitely only going for the day so had left his big pack and sleeping bag at the hut and had gone off with just a small day pack and his raincoat."
Mr Nicholson said the search area was relatively small, but swollen rivers had hampered efforts.
A search and rescue operation using foot patrols, tracker dogs and helicopters has failed to find the tramper.
Mr Nicholson said today's search involved expert teams exploring canyons on ropes to investigate tight sections of river.
These were areas where there was a high probability Mr Hawkins would be, with a low chance of survival.
River levels had dropped substantially with the last few days of clear weather, he said.
Rescuers were eternally hopeful, but given the areas to be searched today, it was very unlikely Mr Hawkins would be found alive, Mr Nicholson said.
- NZPA
