Search continues for missing teen

Lucas Cochrane. Photo: Supplied/NZ Police
Lucas Cochrane. Photo: Supplied/NZ Police
The search will continue today for an Auckland teenager missing in the Coromandel after attending a party at the weekend.

Luke Cochrane was last seen just before midnight on Saturday at a function at the Whitianga Fire Station.

Searchers last night scoured the area until 9pm looking for the lost visitor.

Police said one search and rescue member was continuing to make inquiries in the town this morning. The search would be built up again later this morning.

Cochrane's family have headed to the Coromandel and police have asked Whitianga residents to check their properties, including garages and outbuildings.

The 19-year-old is described as European, 182cm tall and of medium build with short sandy-coloured hair.

When he was last seen he was wearing a black T-shirt, dark blue jeans, a black peaked cap and white, red and blue Nike shoes.

Cochrane had travelled down from Auckland with a friend, Taine Douglas, for another friend's family reunion.

Douglas told the Herald he had not seen Cochrane since about 10pm on Saturday night.

He said he was trying to stay positive.

"Me and Luke have been best friends for quite a while."

Cochrane had left parties without saying goodbye before, but he'd always made it home safe, Douglas said.

They had been drinking, but Cochrane was not so drunk Douglas had felt concerned about him.

Police say they are "concerned for Mr Cochrane's safety due to the length of time he has been missing and the fact that he is not from Whitianga and does not know the area".

Anyone with information about Cochrane's whereabouts is asked to call 111.

Wild weather in the Coromandel has prompted police to issue a warning to motorists not to travel unnecessarily in the area.

Emergency services yesterday assisted several drivers with removing their cars after getting stuck trying to drive through flooded waters.

 

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