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are serious fears for Matt Wallis, one of Warbirds' four sons on Sir Tim Wallis, founder of Wanaka, after the disappearance of a helicopter on Lake Wanaka on Saturday
. being at the helm of a helicopter that crashed into Lake Wanaka on Saturday.
Matt Wallis, son of the aviation pioneer and founder of Warbirds against Sir Tim Wallis, of Wanaka, reportedly died after leaving Wanaka Airport for a short solo flight to the national park from Mount Aspiring.
One kilometer north of Stevensons Island, in the southeast corner of Lake Otago, debris was discovered on the shores of the island. Search and rescue teams reached the wreckage but found no one
GEORGE HEARD / STUFF
chopper shortly after he descended into Lake Wanaka on Saturday.
Friends named Wallis as the missing pilot, saying that he was a "highly respected" man whose death was "heartbreaking".
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with police, search and rescue teams and Coastguard focusing on Stevensons Island. The police diving squad is expected in Wanaka today and will assess the situation this afternoon.
With his three brothers, Matt Wallis owns and operates the exclusive Minaret Station, which is frequented by Hollywood celebrities who are passionate about Avoid prying eyes.
Meteorologists were hoping that a clear morning would help the operation, but that rain and gusts of wind could provoke the attack of Otago this afternoon.
MetService meteorologist April Clark said weather in Wanaka was deteriorating ", with showers becoming heavy rain in the afternoon and not expected to relax before Monday
The helicopter took off from Wanaka for the National Park around 1 pm Saturday, a trip that the police would normally have taken about 15 minutes. (19659019) Sir Tim Wallis alongside former Prime Minister Helen Clark, who launched a $ 10 million fundraising campaign for … "title =" "src =" https://resources.stuff.co.nz/content/dam/images/1/q/w/ r / a / 6 / image.related.StuffLandscapeSixteenByNine.620×349.1qwqx2.png / 1532224044606.jpg "class =" photoborder "/>
DEBBIE JAMIESON / STUFF
Sir Tim Wa He is alongside former Prime Minister Helen Clark, who has launched a $ 10 million fundraising campaign to redevelop the Museum of New Fighter Pilots Zealand to Wanaka.
Detective Sergeant Derek Shaw confirmed that a pilot was the only passenger on board.
Matt Wallis is one of four brothers – brother to Toby, Jonathan and Nick – who operate Minaret Station, a working farm and exclusive mountain resort in a glacial valley of the Southern Alps, accessible only by helicopter .
Richie McCaw, the former All Black, worked alongside them, training the guests in the remote station
FREDRIK LARSSON
Minaret Station over Lake Wanaka is accessible only by helicopter, so Matt Wallis and his brothers fly in their guests.
The Mayor of Queenstown Lakes, Jim Boult, said that he had been sh "I'm sure I speak for everyone that it's heartbreaking. He was terribly known," said Boult. "When the family arrives, the whole district, our hearts go to them."
The Queenstown Lakes aviation community has already been struck by tragedy. Matt Wallis paid tribute to his friend Morgan Saxton, who died after his helicopter dropped on Lake Wanaka, and said Saxton's life was "too short".
Matt Wallis is an avid outdoorsman and well-known tourist.
