Handrails have been removed to deter people from trying to climb the dangerous West Auckland icon. Photo / Brett Phibbs
The search will resume today for a man presumed dead after the group he was with ignored warning signs and climbed to the top of Lion Rock at Piha in West Auckland.
The 18-year-old is believed to have fallen to his death from the 101m west coast landmark
early yesterday. Police were alerted at 4.30am that he was missing, but could not find a body.
Senior Sergeant Garth Stockley of Henderson was unable to confirm yesterday whether the group had been drinking, despite an eye-witness account that they were carrying a chillybin.
Mr Stockley said camping on the rock was "pretty foolhardy". There was public access about half way up, but after that no proper pathway, and handrails had been removed to deter climbers. He said beachgoers continued to climb the rock despite the warnings and evident danger.
"The track had fallen away and there were signs up saying go no further but they carried on."
The Westpac rescue helicopter was called in to help in the search and jet skis were also used in conditions that included 4m swells and strong onshore winds. Search and Rescue and First Response were also involved in the search.
Duncan Clarke, vice patrol captain at Piha surf club, said he had heard a group of young people carrying beer had climbed up to the top of the rock. It was "sheer stupidity" to attempt to stay there overnight.
Searchers had found evidence of broken branches, indicating the teenager fell off the seaward side of the rock, where there were sheer drops.
