The search for a British hiker who failed to return from a solo hike in New Zealand has been ‘paused’, police have revealed.

Eli Sweeting, 25, sparked a major search and rescue operation when he went missing after setting off for a hike up the mile-high Mitre Peak near Milford Sound on Sunday, May 4.

The experienced hiker is understood to have been exploring the area around the 5,560ft mountain on the country’s South Island. 

Efforts by 60 search and rescue volunteers, with the aid of volunteers, helicopters and search dogs, to locate Mr Sweeting have been hampered by bad weather and difficult terrain.

But on Monday afternoon, Inspector Matt Scoles, acting commander for the district, said police had made the ‘difficult decision’ to pause search efforts.

‘We have been supporting the tramper’s [hiker’s] family and we know this is difficult news for them to hear at what has been an incredibly distressing time,’ he said.

‘While the search has now been paused, we will be reviewing our efforts and looking to see if there is anything further we can do.’

In a fundraising post, Mr Sweeting’s sister, Serena Sweeting, said he was an ‘experienced climber’ who had ‘hiked in this terrain many times’.

Last week, the family were given fresh hope after rescuers spotted a torchlight.

Eli Sweeting (pictured), 25, sparked a major search and rescue operation when he went missing after setting off for a hike up the mile-high Mitre Peak near Milford Sound on Sunday, May 4

The 25-year-old sparked a major search and rescue operation when he failed to return from a hike up the mile-high Mitre Peak near Milford Sound on Sunday, May 4

Serena said: ‘There has been a light spotted at a point along the route down the mountain and all efforts have been focused there.’

She revealed how searches had to be halted over Wednesday and Thursday last week due to weather warnings, adding: ‘The challenges are that the bush is so dense that it is hard for infrared to pick up any signs.’

Family friend Samantha Eastwell, 31, also told MailOnline last week: ‘We are all just trying to stay positive, they keep seeing a light so they don’t know whether he is alive but when they keep having to call off the search because of the weather. 

‘He’s a very outdoorsy guy and has been in New Zealand for a while. He was dressed for the conditions but Serena told me Eli had only packed for one night.

‘The whole family is very, very worried for him.’

A GoFundMe page set up to support the search for Mr Sweeting, who is originally from Bristol, has raised more than £12,000.

In a message on the site, Serena said: ‘My brother has always enjoyed being in the mountains, and adventure is what he lives for.

‘Eli is one of the kindest, most compassionate people in my life, and he has always been there for me.

‘He inspires me to live and get out of my comfort zone, as well as listens and genuinely wants to know you and your story.

‘We are based in England. We just want him home safe. We just pray they find Eli.’

The page said search teams had been ‘working around the clock’ in ‘unbelievably dense alpine bush’.

Mr Sweeting, who is originally from Bristol, moved to New Zealand after graduating from the University of Derby with a degree in outdoor leadership and management.

Until recently he had been working for a boat cruising company but has also worked as a kayak guide and in fields including climbing and watersports.

Mr Sweeting has not been heard from since Sunday, when he went to hike the mile-high Mitre Peak near Milford Sound (pictured with his sister Serena)

Police said a large number of people had been working through arduous terrain, supported by helicopter crews but the search was ‘paused’ today. Pictured: The areas police have been searching in Milford Sound

Southern District Police released images of the areas they were searching last week

Mr Sweeting, who is originally from Bristol, moved to New Zealand after graduating from the University of Derby with a degree in outdoor leadership and management 

Darryl Wilson, CEO of Wilsons Abel Tasman, told magazine Eli is a ‘bright, engaging, fill the room type person’.

He added: ‘Our thoughts are with the family and those who know him, because it is a trying time for everyone, a concerning time.

‘Eli is a very resilient individual, so we hope and pray at this point.’

According to Eli’s profile on Wilsons, after ‘countless hours working and adventuring in the outdoors’