Helicopter wreckage found on bottom of lake

The Hughes 500 helicopter was believed to have crashed on the northern side of Lake Sumner. Photo / Wikimedia Commons image posted by user Craig Allen

The wreckage of a missing helicopter has been found in Lake Sumner in a remote part of North Canterbury.

The wreckage was found at a depth of 127 metres by a Navy remotely operated vehicle (ROV) said Canterbury police spokesman Craig McKay.

"The Navy operational dive team using a ROV located an item of interest yesterday evening and this morning they confimed that that is the helicopter and the search is ongoing for Mr Mehrtens,'' said Mr McKay.

Michael Graeme Mehrtens, 35, was the only occupant of a Hughes 500 helicopter that crashed near Breaksea Bay in Lake Sumner on Monday afternoon last week while spraying gorse for the Department of Conservation.

Mr McKay said it was unknown whether Mr Mehrtens' body was still in the wreckage.

The navy dive team is considering trying to attach a grappling hook to the wreckage.

The team worked well after dark last night and will probably be doing the same tonight, he said.