24 Aug 2012

Navy joins New Plymouth search for bodies

10:15 am on 24 August 2012

The Navy has helped in the search for two bodies missing off New Plymouth since a rock-climbing accident more than two weeks ago.

The body of Brazililan exchange student Felipe Melo was recovered on Sunday.

He and another 17-year-old student, Stephen Kahukaka-Gedye ,went missing off Paritutu Rock along with their instructor, 42-year-old Bryce Jourdain, on 8 August.

The Navy used sonar equipment on Thursday morning to look for submerged objects in the breakwater area at Port Taranaki.

Police divers were also in the water and will continue searching on Friday based on results of the sonar mapping.