KEY POINTS:
The push to find a missing tramper in Kahurangi national park in the northern South Island was boosted with an extra 20 searchers this morning.
Mapua man Steve Thornborrow, 51, was last seen near a hut in the Mt Arthur area on Tuesday. Family members found his four-wheel-drive vehicle parked in the carpark leading into the national park on Wednesday afternoon.
The experienced tramper had been devastated when his house was destroyed by fire a week ago, and it was out of character for him to go away without telling family, his sister Kelsey Gull said yesterday.
Motueka Search and Rescue co-ordinator John Haynes said last 10 teams of two or three searchers had camped in the park overnight.
"We've got a fresh group coming in tomorrow to supplement the 30, so there'll be 50-plus in the field tomorrow."
Mr Haynes said the search operation had turned its focus to the area around Saddle Creek, where a number of footprints were found later yesterday afternoon.
There was a "strong feeling" among searchers that this could be where Mr Thornborrow had gone.
"It's a big area but they're going to concentrate a few more groups there."
As well as ground searchers, an air force Iroquois helicopter, a private helicopter and two teams of specialist search dogs have been involved in the hunt for the missing man.
Mr Haynes said Mr Thornborrow would need a good sleeping bag, warm clothes and food and water to survive in the park.
"We're not sure what equipment he had with him, and this is what concerns police and searchers -- not knowing what he's got. The last two nights it's been very cold on the tops.
"If he took no food with him we're now talking his fourth night out that's he's been without food."
The fact that Mr Thornborrow had just lost all his possessions in a fire and was extremely upset was also a concern to searchers.
His family and friends were maintaining a vigil at the search operation base, Mr Haynes said.
- NZPA
