Artigau is believed to have fallen from a rock and into the river while hiking the Rob Roy Glacier track in Aspiring National Park, near Wānaka.
Multiple search and rescue teams are currently searching for the man. Wānaka Land Search and Rescue Canyon, River Rescue, and Scuba specialised teams are involved in the search.
Aspiring Helicopters are also assisting police with aerial searches and transporting search teams into the area, located in the Matukituki Valley.
Artigau, 21, was hiking the track with two friends who lost sight of him around 600m from the upper lookout. The friends believe he fell off a rock and into the river.
A friend who was with Artigau on the hike described the moment he realised he lost sight of the 21-year-old, who is thought to have fallen from a rock and into the water.
Santiago Ponce told the Herald he and another friend, Blas, were hiking the track with Artigau when they lost track of their friend.
“Blas and I were with him when it happened, we lost sight of him at one point and never saw him again,” he said.
They then spotted his hat in the river and began screaming for help.
The person missing in Aspiring National Park is 21-year-old Hector Gaston Artigau, from Argentina. Photo / Supplied
While a search is under way in the area where the man was last seen, the track remains closed and friends have taken to social media to share details about Artigau in the hope someone may help find him.
The 21-year-old’s family in Argentina have been notified of his disappearance.
“The family were informed today by the Argentinean chancellery, a person went to his house and informed the family of his disappearance,” the friend said on Saturday.
At the time of his disappearance, Artigau was dressed similarly to the photo the friends are circulating online, in a black singlet, black shorts, grey Salomon sneakers and carrying a dark blue backpack.
The missing man arrived in New Zealand in September last year on a working holiday visa. Ponce told the Herald the two met in December while working in Central Otago and became friends.
“We met in Alexandra to work together in the cherry season, I met him on about 18 December, and we worked all January together,” he said.
Artigau’s family in Argentina remain hopeful he will be found safe and sound.
