Search for Aisling in full swing

Air Force personnel helping in search for missing Aisling Symes in w. Auck; Asian woman seen with her hasn't come forward

7 October 2009
Up to 60 people in west Auckland have resumed the search for missing two-year-old Aisling Symes.

Police are confident Aisling is not in the Huruhuru Creek, which is in the vicinity of the Longburn Rd home where she wandered away from on Monday afternoon.

Police say the last person believed to have seen her has not yet come forward. The woman is aged around 30 and was walking a dog when she was seen with a child matching Aisling's description. Officers say it may be the case that the woman does not speak English and may not know about the search.

Inspector Gary Davey, the head of the investigation, says while the woman may have just helped Aisling, police still need to talk to her about what she may have seen. Appeals for help have been extended to Auckland's Asian media.

Mr Davey says as time goes on the possibility of someone having Aisling in an innocent way diminishes.

The search is being extended today and Air Force personnel are helping out. A more intensive hunt is taking place in the Longburn Rd area.

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