Latest news with #EliSweeting
The Sun
12-05-2025
- The Sun
Major update in hunt for Brit hiker, 25, who disappeared in New Zealand over a week ago after mountain walk
THE search for a British hiker who disappeared in New Zealand more than a week ago has been paused, police said. Eli Sweeting, 25, was reported missing on May 4 when he failed to return from a walk up Mitre Peak, a steep mountain in Milford Sound in the South Island. 2 In a statement yesterday police said they had scoured the climbing route using two helicopters, thermal imagery and a drone but had decided to pause search efforts. They added: "In the last six days police have carried out extensive searches. "We have focused on searching the route used by climbers as well as an aerial search of the entire area using two helicopters and thermal imagery. "Additionally a drone has also been deployed. "We have been supporting the family and we know this is difficult news for them to hear at what has been an incredibly distressing time. "Police remain in frequent contact with the family." A GoFundMe page set up to support the search for Mr Sweeting, originally from Bristol, has raised more than £12,000. His sister, Serena, said: "My brother has always enjoyed being in the mountains, and adventure is what he lives for. "Eli is one of the kindest, most compassionate people in my life, and he has always been there for me. "He inspires me to live and get out of my comfort zone, as well as listens and genuinely wants to know you and your story. "We are based in England. We just want him home safe. We just pray they find Eli."
Sky News
12-05-2025
- Sky News
Eli Sweeting: Search for British hiker missing in New Zealand 'paused'
The search for a British hiker who vanished in New Zealand more than a week ago has been "paused", police have said. Eli Sweeting, 25, who is originally from Bristol, was reported missing on 4 May after failing to return from a hike up Mitre Peak, a steep mountain in Milford Sound on the South Island. A large-scale rescue operation was launched, with teams scouring "dangerous and challenging terrain" for several days. On Monday, New Zealand Police said the force had made the "difficult decision" to pause search efforts. A police statement said: "In the last six days police have carried out extensive searches. "We have focused on searching the route used by climbers as well as an aerial search of the entire area using two helicopters and thermal imagery. Additionally a drone has also been deployed. "We have been supporting the family and we know this is difficult news for them to hear at what has been an incredibly distressing time. "Police remain in frequent contact with the family." Although the search has been paused, the force said it will be reviewing its efforts "to see if there is anything further we can do". A GoFundMe page set up to support the search has raised more than £12,000. In a message on the site, Mr Sweeting's sister Serena said: "My brother has always enjoyed being in the mountains, and adventure is what he lives for. "Eli is one of the kindest, most compassionate people in my life, and he has always been there for me. "He inspires me to live and get out of my comfort zone, as well as listens and genuinely wants to know you and your story. "We are based in England. We just want him home safe. We just pray they find Eli." The fundraising page said search teams had been "working around the clock" in "unbelievably dense alpine bush". A spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said: "We are in contact with local authorities following reports of a missing British national in New Zealand."
The Independent
12-05-2025
- The Independent
Search for British hiker missing in New Zealand ‘paused'
The search for a British hiker who disappeared in New Zealand more than a week ago has been 'paused', police said. Eli Sweeting, 25, was reported missing on Sunday May 4 after failing to return from a hike up Mitre Peak, a steep mountain in Milford Sound in the South Island. A large-scale search and rescue operation was launched shortly before midnight, with teams scouring 'dangerous and challenging terrain' for several days. On Monday, New Zealand Police said the force had made the 'difficult decision' to pause search efforts. A police statement said: 'In the last six days police have carried out extensive searches. 'We have focused on searching the route used by climbers as well as an aerial search of the entire area using two helicopters and thermal imagery. 'Additionally a drone has also been deployed. 'We have been supporting the family and we know this is difficult news for them to hear at what has been an incredibly distressing time. 'Police remain in frequent contact with the family.' The force added: 'While the search has now been paused, we will be reviewing our efforts and looking to see if there is anything further we can do.' A GoFundMe page set up to support the search for Mr Sweeting, who is originally from Bristol, has raised more than £12,000. In a message on the site, Mr Sweeting's sister Serena said: 'My brother has always enjoyed being in the mountains, and adventure is what he lives for. 'Eli is one of the kindest, most compassionate people in my life, and he has always been there for me. 'He inspires me to live and get out of my comfort zone, as well as listens and genuinely wants to know you and your story. 'We are based in England. We just want him home safe. We just pray they find Eli.' The page said search teams had been 'working around the clock' in 'unbelievably dense alpine bush'. A spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said: 'We are in contact with local authorities following reports of a missing British national in New Zealand.'
Times
12-05-2025
- Times
Search intensifies for British hiker missing in New Zealand
A 'large-scale air and ground search' is continuing for the British hiker who disappeared last week in New Zealand. Eli Sweeting, 25, was reported missing on May 4 after not returning from a solo hike up Mitre Peak, a mountain in Milford Sound in Fiordland National Park, South Island. More than 40 volunteers and staff have since been searching for the Bristolian, who has been described by New Zealand police as an 'experienced hiker'. Helicopters, dogs, and locals have joined the search operation and some of the young man's family have also flown out to help. The search was momentarily stopped on Wednesday and Thursday owing to weather alerts but resumed at the end of the week, focusing primarily on a route heading down the
Daily Mail
12-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Search 'paused' for missing British hiker, 25, who failed to return from solo hike on New Zealand mountain
The search for a British hiker who failed to return from a solo hike in New Zealand has been 'paused', police have revealed. Eli Sweeting, 25, sparked a major search and rescue operation when he went missing after setting off for a hike up the mile-high Mitre Peak near Milford Sound on Sunday, May 4. The experienced hiker is understood to have been exploring the area around the 5,560ft mountain on the country's South Island. Efforts by 60 search and rescue volunteers, with the aid of volunteers, helicopters and search dogs, to locate Mr Sweeting have been hampered by bad weather and difficult terrain. But on Monday afternoon, Inspector Matt Scoles, acting commander for the district, said police had made the 'difficult decision' to pause search efforts. 'We have been supporting the tramper's [hiker's] family and we know this is difficult news for them to hear at what has been an incredibly distressing time,' he said. 'While the search has now been paused, we will be reviewing our efforts and looking to see if there is anything further we can do.' In a fundraising post, Mr Sweeting's sister, Serena Sweeting, said he was an 'experienced climber' who had 'hiked in this terrain many times'. Last week, the family were given fresh hope after rescuers spotted a torchlight. Serena said: 'There has been a light spotted at a point along the route down the mountain and all efforts have been focused there.' She revealed how searches had to be halted over Wednesday and Thursday last week due to weather warnings, adding: 'The challenges are that the bush is so dense that it is hard for infrared to pick up any signs.' Family friend Samantha Eastwell, 31, also told MailOnline last week: 'We are all just trying to stay positive, they keep seeing a light so they don't know whether he is alive but when they keep having to call off the search because of the weather. 'He's a very outdoorsy guy and has been in New Zealand for a while. He was dressed for the conditions but Serena told me Eli had only packed for one night. 'The whole family is very, very worried for him.' A GoFundMe page set up to support the search for Mr Sweeting, who is originally from Bristol, has raised more than £12,000. In a message on the site, Serena said: 'My brother has always enjoyed being in the mountains, and adventure is what he lives for. 'Eli is one of the kindest, most compassionate people in my life, and he has always been there for me. 'He inspires me to live and get out of my comfort zone, as well as listens and genuinely wants to know you and your story. 'We are based in England. We just want him home safe. We just pray they find Eli.' The page said search teams had been 'working around the clock' in 'unbelievably dense alpine bush'. Mr Sweeting, who is originally from Bristol, moved to New Zealand after graduating from the University of Derby with a degree in outdoor leadership and management. Until recently he had been working for a boat cruising company but has also worked as a kayak guide and in fields including climbing and watersports. Darryl Wilson, CEO of Wilsons Abel Tasman, told magazine Eli is a 'bright, engaging, fill the room type person'. He added: 'Our thoughts are with the family and those who know him, because it is a trying time for everyone, a concerning time. 'Eli is a very resilient individual, so we hope and pray at this point.'
