Police have issued an urgent plea for public help to find 79-year-old Elizabeth Nicholls, a Christchurch woman who has now been missing for a week.
Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday afternoon, Detective Sergeant Lucy Aldridge said the last confirmed sighting of Elizabeth, known as Liz, was at the Chateau on the Park in Riccarton at 7.54pm on Wednesday 4 June.
“Liz has dementia and police have grave concerns for her welfare,” Aldridge said. “Despite extensive searches, door-to-door inquiries and reviewing CCTV footage, we have not been able to find her or identify where she went after leaving the Chateau.”
At the time she went missing, Liz was wearing a black and grey chequered long sleeve shirt, a maroon long sleeve top underneath, navy blue jeans and black leather shoes. She has distinctive grey shoulder-length hair.
“She is physically strong and may have walked a long distance,” Aldridge said.
She urged Christchurch residents to search their backyards, sheds, and sleepouts, and to check under anything where someone could seek shelter.
“For anyone with CCTV in the Riccarton area, please review your footage from 6.40pm on Wednesday 4 June through to 8am on Thursday 5 June,” she said.
Police said they were not treating the disappearance as suspicious but were keeping an open mind.
Liz’s husband of nearly 60 years, Gary Nichols, asked police to share a personal statement on behalf of the family.
“Liz is an adored wife, mother, grandmother, friend and colleague who has always put others first,” the statement said. “Her life has been about helping people through nursing, Plunket and social work. She has been there for people when they needed her most.”
Gary said the past week had been “extremely difficult” and filled with painful uncertainty.
“We are deeply concerned, but we are grateful for the love and support shown for Liz. Thank you to the police, search and rescue teams, Canterbury University students and the Victoria Neighbourhood Association who have all been working in the cold, the rain and the darkness to bring Liz home to us.”
Police are urging anyone with information to call 111 immediately.
