French sailing instructor missing in Auckland - Update
by NZ Police/Sail-World.com/nz 18 Mar 2020 14:39 AEDT
18 March 2020
Eloi Rolland - French sailing instructor missing in Auckland © Rolland Family
Operation Cookeville - Police appeal for sightings of missing Frenchman in Piha
Waitemata Police are continuing to appeal for the public's assistance in locating Eloi Jean Rolland.
The 18-year-old French national was reported missing to Police a week ago.
He is a certified sailing instructor with sailing experience Dart16 catamaran, participated in the Critérium Départemental de l'Hérault in October 2018 with the YCMC club in Carnon and at club regattas in the Baie de Somme in August 2017 and 2019 with the APVC club.
Currently he is licensed at the Carnon club and has made a request to practice as a sailing instructor next summer in France at the Carnon club.
In addition, he holds a national patent issued in May 2019 by civil security in safety and rescue in an aquatic environment.
Detective Senior Sergeant Murray says the last confirmed sighting of Eloi remains at 7.26am on Saturday 7 March at the Fruitvale Road railway station in New Lynn.
Enquiries on Eloi’s mobile phone indicate he was in the area of Piha Road at 9:18am on Saturday 7 March.
Detective Senior Sergeant Marcia Murray says a Search and Rescue team began conducting a search around the Piha Road area yesterday afternoon.
"This search effort has been scaled up today, with the SAR team conducting land-based searches in the Piha area.
"We are urging anyone that lives in the Piha area that may have seen Eloi on Saturday 7 March to contact Police.
"Likewise, we are asking anyone travelling along Piha Road that has dash camera footage from that morning to get in touch with us."
Police are urging anyone who may have seen the teenager to contact us.
"As time passes since the last confirmed sighting of Eloi, our concerns for his wellbeing continue to grow," says Detective Senior Sergeant Murray.
"I would like to acknowledge those members of the public who have contacted Police so far.
We have received a number of calls and we will work through assessing the information provided."
Eloi speaks limited English and is described as 170cms tall and thin build.
He was last seen wearing a blue and white jacket, jeans, and dark sneakers.
Anyone with information can contact Waitemata Crime Squad on (09) 839 0697 and quote file number 200310/8987.
You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.