Fed: Meeting underway to decide search plan for kayaker

AAP General News (Australia)
02-12-2007
Fed: Meeting underway to decide search plan for kayaker

SYDNEY, Feb 12 AAP - Rescue experts are currently meeting to consider what action will
be taken in the search for missing tran-Tasman kayaker Andrew McAuley.

The Rescue Coordination Centre of NZ began a meeting about 5.30am (AEDT) to assess
the weather, ocean currents, the time elapsed since the search began and the gear Mr McAuley
was carrying.

Rescue Centre spokeswoman Annie Lattey would not comment on whether it is possible
the search could be called off, saying the meeting was examining all the information at
hand.

The meeting is expected to take up to another hour, she said.

"The meeting is under way, it's been going since about 7.30am our time and it is reviewing
the current situation," she said.

"They are reviewing all sorts of information, including the areas that have been searched."

Mr McAuley's upturned kayak was spotted by a New Zealand Air Force plane late on Saturday
afternoon in rough seas about 75km off Milford Sound in the south island.

There has been no sign of the Australian, who was expected to arrive in Milford Sound
yesterday after leaving Tasmania on January 11 in a bid to become the first person to
paddle across the Tasman in a kayak..

Concerns about his safety emerged after New Zealand maritime authorities picked up
a garbled distress message on Friday night.

Hopes of finding him alive have faded amid conflicting reports of whether he was carrying
a vital piece of survival equipment, a full-body immersion suit.

Ms Lattey said Mr McAuley's wife had told authorities he only took a dry kayaking jacket
on board and his life jacket.

The immersion suit however would have only extended his survival in the water by up
to 11 hours, Ms Lattey said.

AAP nr/rs

KEYWORD: NZ KAYAK DAYLEAD

2007 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.