Dozens turn up to search for a missing 81-year-old in Christchurch

UPDATE 6.15PM TUESDAY: Police have located the 81-year-old Canterbury woman who was reported missing last week.

Detective Senior Sergeant Colin Baillie says following days of extensive searching by Police teams, assisted by members of the public, she was located in Ferrymead this evening.

She was extremely cold, but is talking to Police and will be sent for a medical examination. Her family have been notified of this great result.

Police wish to thank everybody who assisted with search efforts in recent days.

Residents in the Christchurch suburb of Woolston have rallied together in the hunt for missing local woman, Valerie Hargrave.

Police said the 81-year-old was last seen by family in her home on Thursday 4th June.

Officers have been joined by volunteers from Land Search and Rescue - and now also members of the community.

Lifecare Ambulance Service put out a call to action via Facebook - asking people to gather and look for Valerie themselves. 

Immediately, locals backed the idea.

“See you all at 10:30, let's try help get Valerie back to her whanau,” one member wrote.

“Can't help but think, what if this was my Grandma.” 

“This Community should be very proud of themselves the way they've rallied to find Valerie…” wrote another.

These sentiments were shared by resident Kiriana Welsh-Phillip, who spoke to rova after today’s search wrapped up.

“There were definitely a lot more people than I expected to be there, and more and more people kept showing up throughout the day,” she said.

“We were all comparing the situation to our own family members. For me personally, it was thinking about my grandmother, if my grandmother went missing, I'd want everyone out and about helping search for her as well.”

She said groups gathered in front of the local New World at 10:30am and dispersed around Woolston until 2pm, with plans to continue the next day if needed.

Welsh-Phillip added she’s not surprised this kind of effort was made for a fellow Woolston resident. 

“I would expect this kind of turnout from Woolston… It's not the first time the community has kind of come out in support of one another.”

Both Detective Senior Sergeant Colin Baillie and Valerie’s family have growing concerns for her safety and wellbeing. 

Official teams are continuing their search in tandem with the community.

Image of search party credit: Kiriana Welsh-Phillip on Facebook