12 Jan 2009

Search for Mt Aspiring tramper called off

6:12 am on 12 January 2009

The search for the Auckland tramper missing in Mt Aspiring National Park since New Year's Eve has been officially called off.

Irina Yun, 36, was last seen at 9.30am on 31 December as she left the Mt Aspiring Hut, near Wanaka, and headed over the Cascade Saddle for the Dart Hut.

A final search on Sunday failed to find any further clues and police say there is nothing more that they can do.

Search teams have put in close to 400 hours looking for Ms Yun, but found only her tramping pack which showed it had been ripped from her by the force of water.

Ms Yun is presumed to have drowned while attempting to cross a river that was swollen by heavy rain.

Police say they will adopt what they call a continuous limited search that will focus on new information, clues or sightings.