North Otago police returned to the Kakanui River mouth this morning to search for an Alaskan tourist missing since Sunday.
Sean Francis Lawson, aged 20, had visited a family member in Oamaru on Saturday but has not been seen since.
Locals reported finding his car in an "unusual
place" near the river early on Sunday. The car was stuck and some property was outside it.
Sergeant Tony Woodbridge, of Oamaru police, told the Otago Daily Times concerns were held for the safety of Mr Lawson as there had been heavy rain and high seas in the area on Saturday night and Sunday.
He could be injured, have been swept away by flooding, or may have left the area without contacting anyone, Mr Woodbridge said.
A team of 25 people searched for him yesterday and would return to the area this morning.
Mr Lawson is described as Caucasian, 1.8m tall, of thin build, with brown frizzy hair. He was last seen wearing a black beanie with "Ivory Jacks" written on it, a blue or black T-shirt and dark blue jeans.
- NZPA
