Search continues for overdue tramper near Nelson

Five teams of searchers, including a dog and specialist cavers are today in Kahurangi National Park searching for a man overdue from a tramp.

Alistair Levy, 54, of Palmerston North, left Nelson on Saturday morning for a tramp in the Mt Owen area. He was due to meet family in Christchurch on Monday but failed to arrive.

Mr Levy’s car has been located at the start of the track at Courthouse Flat. His yellow Bauer Tornado mountain bike is yet to be located.

Today search teams will cover the Bulmer Tarn, Mt Owen, Branch River and Sunrise Peak to the Owen River Valley.

There are extensive cave systems in the area so specialist searchers have been brought in to cover those areas.

A helicopter flew last night with night vision equipment, but failed to locate Mr Levy.

Sergeant John Maxwell of Nelson Police said that when the helicopter was returning from the late night search a laser light was shone into the aircraft. The pilot and crew were able to locate the property the laser was shone from and Police subsequently arrested a person.

Weather in the search area remains favourable today. Mr Levy is an experienced tramper who has completed numerous solo tramps, but he was not carrying a locater beacon.

Police have had a number of people come forward who were in the area, but would still like to speak to anyone else who has been tramping in or around Mt Owen since Saturday.