A helicopter has joined the search for an Irish backpacker missing in a remote stretch of the Chilean-Argentinian border, it emerged tonight.
Sniffer dogs will also try to locate Ronan Lawlor, who has not been in contact with friends or family since he entered the Torres del Paine national park.
Mr Lawlor, 28, from Durrow, Co Laois, was last seen on November 18 travelling by bus to the park in the Patagonian region.His friends and cousins have flown to Argentina and are being assisted by consular staff in Buenos Aires.Meanwhile, the missing man's heartbroken parents Oliver and Ethel, and his brother Karl, remain at home desperately waiting for news.Foreign Affairs Minister Dermot Ahern said a helicopter and sniffer dogs are in place and will begin operations tomorrow.Additional sniffer dogs will also be made available by the Argentinian authorities.The search is focusing on a 20km sq area on the Chilean side of the border.Family friend Colm O'Gorman welcomed the deployment of the extra resources."We wanted the search scaled up as much as possible, particularly as the search area narrowed down," he said."While that search continues, the family have been in constant contact with the Department of Foreign Affairs."A lot of other people have also been in touch to help and support us."Mr Ahern said his officials have also been in contact with the local Chilean Governor of the region in which Mr Lawlor was last reported to be seen."This is very difficult terrain," said Mr Ahern."The search operation is very demanding but I am pleased with the response of both the Chilean and Argentinian authorities to our request for assistance."They have been very helpful and forthcoming. We will continue to liaise with Mr Lawlor's family and Government agencies in Chile and Argentina and provide whatever assistance we can."
PA