Canterbury Police Search and Rescue (SAR) and Specialist Search teams were joined by LandSAR and Civil Defence volunteers today to search the eastern suburbs of Christchurch for 33 year old Hayden COSSEY who was last seen, on Friday 5 December 2014 leaving Eastgate shopping mall at approximately 1pm.
The 65-strong Police led SAR team was made up of Canterbury Police SAR, Dogs and Handlers and volunteers from Canterbury LandSAR and Civil Defence Response teams. The search which began shortly after 8am this morning covered the eastern suburbs of Linwood, Bexley, Bromley and New Brighton. The teams finished at 7pm this evening. An aerial search, by Canterbury Police SAR observers on board a helicopter, of the areas of open land and watercourses was completed at approximately 11am this morning.
Unfortunately Mr COSSEY was not located in the area searched today. Police expect to complete a specialist search of Mr COSSEY’s flat tomorrow.
Police are working closely with and supporting Mr COSSEY’s family while the search for their son continues.
Mr COSSEY is described as European, 187 cm tall, medium build with short brown hair. At the time of his disappearance he was believed to be in good health with no known medical conditions and his family say it is out of character for him to not be in regular contact with them.
He was last seen in Eastgate Mall at approximately 1pm on 5 December 2014 wearing a black hoodie with an square orange design on the back, white t-shirt, black jeans, dark shoes with sunglasses on his head. Mr COSSEY is not believed to have access to a car and it is not known whether he has changed his clothes since the last confirmed sighting at the mall.
Police understand from Mr COSSEY’s family that he moved to Christchurch from Auckland a few weeks ago to take up work related to the rebuild. He has not been in contact with his employer, Mercer Stainless, or returned to work since he left approximately 30 minutes after he arrived at 7.15am on Friday morning (5 December 2014). He is not thought to know the area very well and family members visited Christchurch last week/weekend to help Police canvas the area where he was last seen.
Police and Mr COSSEY’s family have very serious concerns for his wellbeing and ask anyone who has seen or heard from him to contact Police urgently by calling 03 363 7670.
Information can also be provided anonymously by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Canterbury Police would like to thank all of the LandSAR and Civil Defence volunteers who helped with this search today which, without their help, would not have been completed in one day.
ENDS
Issued by: Lisa-Marie Brooks, District Communications Manager, Canterbury Police District. Mobile: 021 942 404