yesterday they hoped the reward would tug at someone's conscience to get the kayak back but so far they had had no luck.
Zach Mutton in action. Photo / Jamie Troughton/Dscribe Media Services
Meanwhile, their "plan B" had just fallen over. They were hoping to get a damaged kayak flown to New Zealand but a mishap at the airport in Amsterdam meant it had been left behind at the airport.
Amanda said they had got the replacement kayak from Prague to Amsterdam but it got left off the plane so was now sitting at the airport there, unable to make it in time for this weekend.
Their "plan C" has come about thanks to a Czech friend of Zach's, Vit Prindis, who had kindly offered him his kayak to race in this weekend.
Amanda said Prindis is a former world champion and is in New Zealand training and it was very kind of him to give Zach his kayak.
He has spent since Monday trying to get used to the kayak, despite it usually taking a good month to settle into something new.
She said the whole ordeal had been exhausting and expensive but it had been made better by the kind offers of help and "lovely people" who had rallied around them.
She said the Rotorua Lakes Council was being helpful by going through CCTV footage from the area this week.
"Zach is coping really well and is determined to stay positive and that's what you have to do isn't it?"
