21 Sep 2013

Bad weather hampers search for Canadian man

8:15 pm on 21 September 2013

Poor weather is hampering the police search for a missing Canadian man in Westland.

Police believe Connor Hayes, 25, was washed downstream after he and his partner's rental campervan was swept into the Haast River by a slip in last week's storm.

A woman's body, believed to be that of Joanna Lam, 24, was found on Friday, washed up on Haast Beach.

West Coast police area commander, John Canning, says the weather has caused the river level to rise and become muddy.

The river may drop on Sunday, which will mean divers can again be used in the search.