Gregg Shaw, missing man from Tauranga, found alive by family searching for him in SH2

A man missing from Tauranga since Christmas Day was found this afternoon in his wrecked car by a family driving down the state highway looking for him, a rescue helicopter spokesman said.

Gregg Shaw, 67, was last seen in Pāpāmoa on Christmas morning. He was supposed to drive to Gisborne, but he didn’t get there.

Police issued a public appeal in an effort to find Shaw, who was missing for two and a half days.

Lowe Corporation Rescue Helicopter CEO Ian Wilmot said Shaw was found by his family around 4 p.m. today after his car crashed on a steep bank of State Highway 2, north of Gisborne.

It is understood that he had suffered broken bones.

The Lowe Corporation rescue helicopter from Hawke’s Bay flew him to Gisborne Hospital when the Gisborne-based rescue helicopter was in another emergency.

“We were the next in line to be called,” Wilmot said.

A strong south wind caused a 28-minute flight for the helicopter to reach the scene from Hastings.

SH2 was closed between Cemetery Rd and Rakauroa Rd to allow the helicopter to land.

Firefighters scrambled down the shore and cut through the car’s roof to get to Shaw, Wilmot said.

“Then they were able to get the guy out of the car, put him in the basket and then the big, strong firefighters at the end of the ropes pushed him out onto the road.”

Wilmot said they had been told that family members raised the alarm after driving down the road looking for their missing loved one.

A police spokeswoman confirmed that Shaw was found in his car on a 5-meter bench on SH2 near Matawai this afternoon.

He had suffered some injuries “but he’s fine” and was conscious when rescuers discovered him.

Shaw had crashed into the bank and had been there ever since, the spokeswoman said.

“The police would like to thank everyone who assisted with our investigations and contacted information during the search for the man.”