Police have decided to suspend the search for 24 year old Corey Foster who was reported missing in Avoca Valley, inland from Lake Coleridge, on a hunting trip last Monday 4 June.
Sergeant Peter Summerfield says that the search team feels for Corey's family and his fiancée Rachel who were told of the decision this morning.
"Corey has now been missing for eight days. He had good clothing but he was not prepared for staying out overnight. If any new information comes to hand we shall come back and revisit the area," he says.
Corey was last seen at 8.40am on Sunday 3 June and since then an intensive ground and aerial search has been conducted but with no sign whatsoever of him. During the search the temperature has fallen to -5 c degrees in the search area with snow, frost and rain.
The Police National Dive Squad yesterday checked possible areas in the river.
An aerial search was made today with the Department of Conservation thermal imaging team using infra red heat seeking equipment on the Defence Force Iroquois.
Search teams are out again for a final check today but will be withdrawn at dark this afternoon says Sergeant Peter Summerfield.