News release:

Mystery of missing Canterbury University student deepens

From: Matt Lawrey – friend of the family

Mystery surrounds the disappearance of 19-year-old University of Canterbury engineering student Leo Lipp Neighbours.

Leo was last seen leaving a Nelson flat in the early hours of last Sunday morning (January 24) wearing blue jeans, a yellow t-shirt and brown shoes.

He was driving an orange 1987 Toyota Corolla station wagon.

This week his family and friends have scoured the upper South Island from the Marlborough Sounds to Murchison and across to Golden Bay by car, by foot and with the use of two hired helicopters.

Today over 30 people are looking for Leo who has not accessed his bank account or used his cellphone since his disappearance.

His family are desperate for information and are asking everyone driving in the upper South Island and between Nelson and Christchurch to be on the look out for Leo’s orange Toyota.

Leo’s mother Charlotte Lipp says it is completely out-of-character for him not to have been in contact.

Reported sightings of Leo in Christchurch earlier this week have proven to be unfounded.

Last year Leo completed his first year of a degree in mechanical engineering at the University of Canterbury and over the summer was building a motorised buggy in his Dad’s garage.

ends

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