Overview

• Eli Sweeting, an experienced 25-year-old hiker from Bristol, went missing on May 4 during a solo climb of Mitre Peak in Fiordland National Park.
• A large-scale search involving helicopters, search dogs, and volunteers faced significant setbacks due to dense terrain and severe weather conditions.
• Efforts were briefly refocused late last week after a torchlight was spotted along a descent route, but no further evidence was found.
• On May 12, New Zealand Police announced a pause in active search operations to review resources and potential next steps.
• Sweeting's family, supported by a fundraising campaign that has raised over £12,000, continues to work with local authorities and the UK Foreign Office to explore further options.