'Missing' people on West Coast believed to be safe

Liam Stirling

Police believe the two people reported missing over the weekend - a Taylorville teenager and French tramper - are both alive and well, and one is in the company of a woman.

West Coast police area commander Inspector John Canning said today that 15-year-old Liam Stirling, who was last seen getting off a bus from Haast to Greymouth a week ago today, at Paringa, was "alive and well'' in Queenstown.

Liam had spent a couple of nights with a Child, Youth and Family caregiver in South Westland, before leaving by bus to return to his father in Greymouth. However, he never arrived.

Mr Canning said Liam was in Queenstown and, as he was a 15-year-old boy, police were organising for CYF to pick him up.

"He does not have any family in Queenstown and he needs to be taken into CYF's care to make him safe.''

Meanwhile, Mr Canning said Yohan Simon, the French tramper who was overdue from a trek over the Happy Valley Saddle, was also safe and the search for him had been suspended.

"We have received a positive sighting of Mr Simon, who was heading towards Karamea in the company of a woman.''

Mr Canning said it appeared that Mr Simon was no longer in the bush, but ``out enjoying the high life''.

Mr Simon was dropped off at the Karamea Bluff on Happy Valley Saddle on October 18, and was to be collected by a friend last Monday. However, Mr Simon never turned up.

Mr Canning said police wanted both Liam and Mr Simon to make contact with them to confirm that they were both okay.

Mr Canning said police did not believe that Mr Simon had left the country. "There was no evidence of that,'' he added.