Police searching for missing Roxburgh man Paul Wilson have widened the search area to include an 80km stretch of the Clutha River but dive teams have been stood down.
Mr Wilson (28), a civil engineer, of Roxburgh, disappeared about noon on Wednesday while collecting water samples from the swollen, swift-flowing Talla Burn stream which flows into the Clutha at Beaumont.
Police said in a statement this afternoon that the search area would now include the 80km length of the Clutha River between Beaumont and Balclutha.
A helicopter team searched the Clutha and the Talla Burn down to Beaumount for four hours this morning in conjunction with water-based searches by a jet boat and the Police National Dive Squad.
"The Talla Burn stream has also been re-checked today and land searchers have explored caves on the face above the stream as well as other areas above the stream," said Detective Sergeant Derek Shaw.
Around 30 people have been searching today including family, friends and workmates.
The Dunedin swift water rescue team and the Police National Dive Squad had been stood down but could be re-called at short notice.
"We are now moving to a more expansive search area, to include wider shoreline and river areas," Detective Sergeant Shaw said.
The search base will shift to Roxburgh Police Station and the search will continue tomorrow.
