Police are this morning searching for a teenager missing overnight in National Park.
Geonwoo, aged 16, is Korean and on holiday in New Zealand with his parents and sister. Yesterday afternoon he and his family decided to walk the Taranaki Falls loop track. This is a relatively easy and well-defined track of aproximately six kilometers.
When the family reached the waterfall, the parents and sister were down at the bottom of the falls and Geonwoo was at the top on the track. At this point, which was approximately 4pm, the rest of the family lost sight of him. They didn’t see him again after this time, and he failed to return to their National Park accommodation.
Approximately 20 Police and volunteer search and rescuers from Whanganui, Turangi, National Park and Taumarunui are currently searching for the teenager. Low cloud is making use of a helicopter difficult.
Geonwoo is wearing shorts, a black windbreaker, a peak cap and running shoes. He has no physical disabilities or health conditions. He cannot speak English. At this stage Police are only disclosing his first name.
Anyone who has seen Geonwoo or has any information about his whereabouts is asked contact National Park Police on 027 454 627.
Under no circumstances should media ring the National Park Police phone number regarding this incident as the line needs to be kept free for the operation. Any media enquiries should be referred to Communications Manager Kim Perks on 027 234 8256.