4 May 2015

Police to attempt Southland car recovery

6:53 pm on 4 May 2015

Police will attempt to recover the car at centre of the case of a missing Southland boy on Wednesday.

John Beckenridge, left, and Mike Zhao-Beckenridge

John Beckenridge, left, and Mike Zhao-Beckenridge Photo: SUPPLIED

Mike Zhao-Beckenridge disappeared almost two months ago with his step-father John Beckenridge, in breach of a custody order, and their wrecked blue Volkswagen Touareg car was found at the bottom of a cliff near Curio Bay.

However, the pair's bodies had not yet been found and police had not been able to enter the water because of rough conditions in Blue Cod Bay.

Police inspector Kelvin Lloyd said conditions on Wednesday should be calm enough for divers to enter the water and attach floating equipment to the vehicle, so the wreck can be towed out by boat.

The Police National Dive Squad is flying to Invercargill tomorrow.

Police placed markers above Blue Cod Bay where tyre tracks came to an end. The cove, near Curio Bay, is at the centre of the search for Michael Zhao-Beckenridge, 11, and his stepfather John Beckenridge.

Police had earlier placed markers above Blue Cod Bay where tyre tracks came to an end. Photo: RNZ / Ian Telfer

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