Christchurch 4WDer Vanishes; Yeti Bob Blamed by Locals

A Christchurch Central man known on social media as Adam has been reported missing after a solo 4WD trip in rural Canterbury, with his green Jimny recovered on gravel in a state best described as cooked.

The vehicle, examined by this correspondent at 0900 hours Sunday, had the side-step hanging off and a long scratch down the driver's door. Adam himself was not at the scene. Nor was his cap, which the group considers significant.

A neighbour, Cherie Vaillancourt, said Adam had posted a story on Saturday captioned 'send' and 'no service lol' before going dark. "He had the aura, eh," she said. "Massive aura. Now there's no aura. Aura's gone."

The Facebook group 'Canterbury 4WD & Bush Sightings' has, against the advice of moderators, landed on a theory that Adam was taken by a yeti known to the group as Bob. Bob is described by members as tall, hairy, and 'possibly from Geraldine'. No formal SAR briefing has mentioned Bob.

A police spokesperson confirmed a search was underway and asked the public to stop ringing the station about the Bob angle. "We are treating this as a missing person. We are not treating this as a Bob," the spokesperson said. My mate at the station added, off the record, that the comments section was doing more damage than the Jimny.

Adam remains missing. The side-step has been bagged. Bob has not been ruled out by the admins.