Navy assisting Taranaki Police in ongoing search off New Plymouth

The Navy is assisting Taranaki Police in the ongoing search for the bodies of Bryce Jourdain and Stephen Kahukaka-Gedye, who were swept away during a rockclimbing exercise on Paritutu Rock in New Plymouth two weeks ago.

The body of the third missing person, 17 year old Felipe Melo, of Brazil, was recovered on Sunday (19 August 2012).

Incident Controller Inspector Frank Grant says searching for the bodies of Topec instructor 42 year old Bryce Jourdain and 17 year old student Stephen Kahukaka-Gedye has continued this week.

"Yesterday Navy officers arrived in New Plymouth with sonar equipment and have conducted a marine search for several hours today, accompanied by members of the Police National Dive Squad."

Inspector Grant says data will be analysed this evening and a decision will then be made as to whether Dive Squad members will be deployed in the water tomorrow to any particular areas of interest.

"Today Police staff have also searched the main breakwater in the Port area on the seaward side for several hours, but sadly, we have not yet located the bodies of Bryce or Stephen."

Inspector Grant says Police are continuing to put every effort into locating the bodies to be able to return them to their families and provide them with some closure following the tragic events of Wednesday 8 August.