Missing Tourist Found
A missing American tourist who sparked a search and rescue on the Heaphy Track today has been found safe and well in Queenstown.
Police said Bob Kuhmann, 52, changed his intentions without informing others. This morning, West Coast search and rescue coordinator Sergeant Sean Judd said Kuhmann had booked three nights accommodation to stay in Conservation Department huts for April 8, 9 and 10, starting from the 78km track's Golden Bay side. He also booked accommodation in Karamea, near the track's West Coast end, for when he finished the tramp on April 11. The owners notified police yesterday that he had failed to arrive. Judd said initial checks at the three huts yesterday showed no indication that Kuhmann had visited, including no signatures in hut books. Information received from the public also suggested he could have stayed in Nelson on April 9 and 10. However, a search and rescue team entered the track's Golden Bay end this morning to look for any trace of him.
Judd said if people planned to explore New Zealand's wilderness, particularly alone, they should leave clear trip details and cancel bookings if travel plans changed. Police thanked search and rescue volunteers who worked on the missing person's investigation and also members of the public who provided information. French tourist Aurelie Lhorme arrived in Australia this month and set off on a road trip along the country's rugged southern coastline. The 30-year-old had travelled to Australia previously, but on this trip hoped to find a job and possibly stay for an extended period of time, but police fear Ms Lhorme's adventure may have taken an ominous turn on Saturday night, on an isolated road about 10 kilometers from the Head of the Bight Whale Watching Centre, near the Nullarbor Plain in South Australia.
They said a staff member at the Head of Bight Whale Watching Centre, west of Ceduna, had spoken to Ms Lhorme early on Saturday night and it appeared she was planning to sleep in her car. The following morning, the staff member noticed the car was parked in the same spot, but there was no trace of Ms Lhorme. The police believe that the missing body could be near the cliff as there were unconfirmed reports, but the missing tourist was found in Queensland.
A missing American tourist who sparked a search and rescue on the Heaphy Track today has been found safe and well in Queenstown.
Judd said if people planned to explore New Zealand's wilderness, particularly alone, they should leave clear trip details and cancel bookings if travel plans changed. Police thanked search and rescue volunteers who worked on the missing person's investigation and also members of the public who provided information. French tourist Aurelie Lhorme arrived in Australia this month and set off on a road trip along the country's rugged southern coastline. The 30-year-old had travelled to Australia previously, but on this trip hoped to find a job and possibly stay for an extended period of time, but police fear Ms Lhorme's adventure may have taken an ominous turn on Saturday night, on an isolated road about 10 kilometers from the Head of the Bight Whale Watching Centre, near the Nullarbor Plain in South Australia.
They said a staff member at the Head of Bight Whale Watching Centre, west of Ceduna, had spoken to Ms Lhorme early on Saturday night and it appeared she was planning to sleep in her car. The following morning, the staff member noticed the car was parked in the same spot, but there was no trace of Ms Lhorme. The police believe that the missing body could be near the cliff as there were unconfirmed reports, but the missing tourist was found in Queensland.