Family members with police and glacier guides at the base of Fox Glacier today. Inset, top: Ashish Mirand, bottom: Akshay Miranda. Photo / NZPA
An aerial search of a section of Fox Glacier where two men were crushed by falling ice has shown the one remaining body would not have been dislodged overnight.
Following heavy rain last night there were hopes that significant ice movement and river flow may have freed the
body of 22-year-old Australian student Akshay Miranda.
But Constable Tony LeSuer from the Hokitika police said a helicopter search had established Mr Miranda's body would not have been dislodged by a rise in the river level.
He said a second large ice collapse further upstream from the original collapse had also occurred.
"This has restricted the river flow through the original site and will slow down any further shifting of ice."
Mr LeSuer said the weather had become fine and sunny but the glacier face was still unstable and it was not safe to recommence an active search of the icefall.
"The Department of Conservation will continue to have two staff monitoring the site. This will continue during daylight hours until at least Monday.
"Police will be meeting with DOC on Monday to reassess the situation," Mr LeSuer said.
The family of Akshay Miranda and his 24-brother, Ashish, whose body was recovered after the collapse, were travelling to Christchurch to be with their deceased son after being advised of the situation.
-NZPA
