Pilot's hunch finds missing man's car

BY MATT CALMAN

A helicopter pilot flying on a hunch may have solved the mystery of what happened to Lower Hutt businessman Stephen Adams eight weeks after he went missing.

Mr Adams' black Ford Falcon XR6 was spotted on its roof in dense bush 50 metres down a steep bank just below the summit of Rimutaka Hill Road on Saturday afternoon.

It was found by Rimutaka Heli-Services pilot Maurice Wooster. He had heard about the search for Mr Adams, who was last reported heading over the hill to Wairarapa.

Mr Wooster, who was not involved in earlier searches, said he had a suspicion as to where Mr Adams' car might have left the road, but had not been able to check earlier as a permit was required to fly low into the area.

However, a surveying job gave him the opportunity and, after just 10 minutes of searching, he found the wreckage.

He and companion Hinrich Kozik returned to the area by car and scrambled down the bank to confirm their find before calling police.

Recovery crews battled for six hours early yesterday to recover a body, which police have yet to identify formally.

Mr Wooster said: "I'm just delighted at being able to do something useful. Even though you don't know the people at all ... I have had this agonising feeling that we should go and have a look in this area. At least they can have some closure."

He believed Mr Adams would have been travelling "quite quickly" when the car left the road.

"Where he went through the fence, the fence has actually been repaired.

"The bush immediately behind the repair is damaged and then he went airborne for probably 20 or 30 metres."

Detective Sergeant Steve Harwood, of Lower Hutt, said police had looked at areas of damage to the fence.

He could not "100 per cent" confirm the identity of the body until a forensic examination had been performed.

Messages of condolence have flooded in to Mr Adams' family. The Lower Hutt businessman, and father of three, disappeared on January 31, prompting searches by police, family and friends.

He had told his wife, Julie, that he was going to Wairarapa to visit his recently deceased mother's grave.

Mrs Adams did not wish to talk yesterday but last week she described the "nightmare" of her situation on a website dedicated to finding her husband.

"Emotions battling each other for space in my head is a constant part of my day now despair, hope, anger and grief but most of all a steady and quiet love for a guy who gave me 24 wonderful years of friendship, devotion and loyalty that no one can ever take away from me."

Mr Adams' 20-year-old daughter, Sarah-Jane, was among dozens of people from around the country who posted messages on a Trade Me message board yesterday. "Dad can now be brought home to us where he belongs."

Another message to Mrs Adams said: "Oh Julie. So sad for you all. What an ending. I can't sleep tonight knowing how hard this must be. Closure is here for you now and for your lovely man. You were the love of his life."

- © Fairfax NZ News