So there’s this guy—they call him Eli Sweeting, 25, of Bristol, UK—who seems to be a real outdoorsman. The type that motivates everyone with their love for clean air and strenuous walks, along with that inspirational nature-heals-the-soul philosophy. Sadly, everything went south for him on his latest solo hike.
Last seen on May 4, Eli went missing after setting off on a solo hike of Mitre Peak, which, if you haven’t heard of it, lies at the south end of New Zealand and is one of those beautiful yet cruel mountain routes in Fiordland National Park. He’s vanished ever since.
By Friday, May 9, search parties had returned to the area in greater numbers. We’re talking something like 40 boots on the ground, some professional rescuers and some mere volunteers. Pro tracking dog teams from Dunedin, cliff rescue specialists SAR teams from Otago, plus helicopters and gear support from local companies Southern Lakes Helicopters, Heliworks Queenstown, and Real NZ. A full on endeavour.
The weather? Ugh. The fog over everything is brutal. Within a single day, slowing everything down, heavy rain and thick fog also managed to sneak in. At one point, they had to pause everything for two days straight.
Now, even after all of this, the mood isn’t completely pessimistic. There is some form of optimism according to Serena – Eli’s younger sister. A rumor has it that someone claimed to have seen a beacon on a descent path, and now the entire area is being scoured for that potential clue.
As quoted from their GoFundMe page, “The undergrowth is crazily thick,” Serena noted. “Even infrared cameras are rolling a big blank scan on searching there.”
On the topic of fundraising – indeed, the family started one in hope to continue the rescue attempt. And people seem to be coming together. they have raised beyond £9,000 (around 180 million rupiah) with the goal being set at £10,000. The funds will be used to purchase additional support equipment (along the lines of drones) for the SAR crews, assist the search and rescue operations, and extend the duration of the searching efforts if necessary.
Elaborating on the situation on why the funds are being raised, Serena put it best: “My brother lives for this stuff. The mountains, the quiet… it’s who he is. But how prepared you are, nature is always a wild card.”
The police have also mentioned they are keeping the hope alive. The forces still on the field are doing absolutely everything they can.
One ticks the box of ‘it’s terrifying to think about’ actually being the case. One second, you are out and about, indulging in the wilderness, relieving some stress… and then it’s all gone. Just like that.
Cross your fingers Eli will turn up alive and well, soon.
