7pm: A helicopter crew was called in to scan the Illawarra Escarpment around Mount Keira from above during a multi-agency operation to find a missing man on Wednesday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Police said the search was prompted by the discovery of an unattended car in the Mount Keira lookout car park about 11am.
As part of the police operation, a Sydney-based Westpac Life Saver helicopter spent at least an hour conducting a number of sweeps of the area around the lookout’s viewing platform.
The helicopter, dubbed “Lifesaver 22”, arrived just after 1pm, catching the attention of lookout visitors as it flew low near the tree tops and close to the cliff face.
The aircraft and its crew left the area by 2.30pm.
“Nothing found at this stage,” Westpac Life Saver tweeted a short time later.
A number of NSW Police resources were initially on the scene, including two police rescue units, as well as general duties and highway patrol officers.
By 3pm, four State Emergency Service units – from Kiama, Coniston, Shellharbour and Wollongong – had been called in to assist.
The search continued for much of the afternoon. As of 5.30pm, crews remained at the lookout and the man was yet to be located.
No further information was available. The man’s disappearance was not being treated as suspicious.
3pm: State Emergency Service (SES) crews are joining the search for a missing man at Mount Keira.
Four units will join a police operation that has been ongoing around the Mount Keira lookout since just before 1pm on Wednesday.
Four SES units – from Kiama, Coniston, Shellharbour and Wollongong – are on their way to the location to assist police.
A number of NSW police resources, including two police rescue trucks, are on the scene at the Mount Keira lookout.
Earlier, a Westpac Life Saver helicopter conducted sweeps of the escarpment around the lookout.
The helicopter is no longer being used.
No further information about the man is available at this stage, police said.
A NSW Police spokeswoman said the search was ongoing.
1.25pm: The Westpac Life Saver helicopter is hovering over Mount Keira to help NSW Police search for a missing man.
The chopper was called about 1pm on Wednesday and has been doing laps in the area around the lookout.
More to come
Andrew Pearson
Andrew grew up in the western Riverina town of Hay and has strong ties to the region. He is a former DA journo who has a passion for breaking news and has covered everything from council and politics to crime and court.
Andrew grew up in the western Riverina town of Hay and has strong ties to the region. He is a former DA journo who has a passion for breaking news and has covered everything from council and politics to crime and court.
