Desperate search for Brit hiker, 25, missing in New Zealand after vanishing SIX DAYS ago while on solo mountain climb

A DESPERATE search is underway to find a Brit hiker who has been missing in New Zealand for days.

Eli Sweeting, 25, failed to return after a solo trip up the mile-high Mitre Peak near Milford Sound on Sunday.

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A search is underway for the missing 25-year-old Brit hiker[/caption]

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He failed to return after a solo trip up the mile-high Mitre Peak[/caption]

Around 60 search and rescue volunteers with 10 police officers supported by helicopters have been frantically searching the area for the missing hiker.

But the search was paused earlier today due to bad weather and difficult terrain – and is expected to resume tomorrow.

Sweeting’s family are on their way out to assist with the search effort.

Family friend Samantha Eastwell, 31, told MailOnline: “We are all just trying to stay positive, they keep seeing a light so they don’t know whether he is alive but when they keep having to call off the search because of the weather.

“He’s a very outdoorsy guy and has been in New Zealand for a while. He was dressed for the conditions but [his sister] Serena told me Eli had only packed for one night.

“The whole family is very, very worried for him and are flying out there now.”

More to follow… For the latest news on this story keep checking back at The Sun Online

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