Search for missing helicopter to continue tomorrow

The search for a missing helicopter, with one person on board, will resume at first light tomorrow at Lake Sumner in North Canterbury.

The Westpac Rescue helicopter has this evening been searching in the Lake Sumner area for signs of the helicopter, which is believed to have crashed into the lake this afternoon.

Police were contacted at around 2.50pm today by the Department of Conservation, which reported a helicopter, believed to be a Hughes 500, may have crashed near Breaksea Bay on Lake Sumner.

The helicopter is reported to have been one of two, owned by a Rangiora helicopter operator, which had been spraying in the vicinity of the lake.

One helicopter was reported overdue, and the second helicopter returned to the area to search for the overdue machine. It was reported that debris had been sighted in the lake, around 150 metres offshore from Breaksea Bay.

The pilot is believed to be the only occupant of the overdue helicopter. Police are not releasing any details of the missing pilot at this stage.

Police search and rescue personnel were this afternoon en route to the location, which is in a remote bush area, accessible only by four-wheel drive.

Police officers will remain at the scene overnight, and a full ground and water search will commence at first light tomorrow.