Lochie Bellerby’s family is hopeful after search finds debris

The family of the missing Southerner Lochie Bellerby says they are hopeful he is still alive after debris from the ship he was traveling on was found on a chain of small islands.

Bellerby is among 40 crew members who have been missing since Gulf Livestock 1 sank in the East China Sea, off the coast of Japan, during a typhoon in September.

More than a month later, a private search team said they found significant debris, believed to be from the freighter, in the Tokara Islands.

The ship sank near the chain of 12 small islands, of which five are uninhabited.

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In a statement, the Bellerby family said the debris included a canopy from a Viking life raft, a life ring, a single blue boot, several deceased cows and three orange barrels tied together.

This information has now been relayed to the Japanese Coast Guard by Australian authorities and the family is working with maritime experts to better identify the items and other potential areas of interest.

“The Bellerby family is asking the New Zealand Foreign Ministry for official diplomatic support with the Japanese Coast Guard while the window of survival remains possible,” the statement said.

The privately funded search has cost A $ 50,000 for fixed wing aircraft and A $ 75,000 for helicopters to date.

While the Bellerby family is contributing to the costs, New Zealanders have also contributed.

“[We] I want to thank the generous people of New Zealand who have donated funds to set up the New Zealand Givealittle page, ”says the family’s statement.

Satellite searches are ongoing and another search for privately funded aircraft will take place around the Amami Islands by helicopter this weekend, weather permitting.