Canterbury Police SAR and search specialists aim to continue the search this week for 64 year old Murray Edge who was last seen by the friend he was hunting with at around 8.30pm on Sunday 19 April 2015.
Canterbury Rural Area Commander, Inspector Dave Gaskin, said “Last week up to 60 people were involved in the search for Murray covering an area of about five square kilometres in very bad weather. The search for Murray has never been suspended and on Friday (24 April 2015) officers reviewed and evaluated the search data to date.”
“This review has resulted in a number of areas of high probability being identified both within the original search are and adjacent terrain. Unfortunately it is not safe for us to send in teams to search these areas today due to the heavy rain and low visibility from the weather system that is moving over the country.”
Inspector Gaskin says a number of people, including hunters, that are known to have been in the area since 19 April 2015 have been spoken to by Police “If anyone we haven’t spoken to was in the upper reaches of the Tengawai River in South Canterbury on Easter Weekend we encourage them to contact their local Police Station.”
“The maroon Toyota Surf Murray and his friend had travelled in and their quad bike underwent a forensic examination last week.
These and a number of other items of interest form part of our ongoing inquiry to locate Murray” explained Inspector Gaskin.
Canterbury Police and Southern Police are supporting Murray’s family.
His family and friends took part in the early stages of the search last week and are working closely with Police. This is an extremely distressing time for them and they are pulling together to support each other while Murray is still missing.
Canterbury Police would like to thank everyone who took part in the search last week and the land owners who have facilitated access to the search area and hosted the SAR search base.
Further media releases updating the search progress will be sent out as and when appropriate this week.
Media note: if you need Inspector Gaskin to verbalise the release this afternoon please text Canterbury District Communications Manager before 2.15pm on 021 942 404
ENDS
Issued by: Lisa-Marie Brooks, District Communications Manager, Canterbury Police District. Mobile: 021 942 404