The Police Dive Squad will arrive in Warkworth at about noon today to join the current search for a local 17 year old male farmhand who is reported missing.
Warkworth Police say the young man was last seen at about 2.00am on Saturday morning 21 July 2007. He had been attending a party during the night and he was seen to leave on his bicycle to ride home.
The young man's bicycle was later found next to SH1 on a grassy bank beside the Mahurangi River, which runs through the centre of the town. However since then there's been no sign of the missing farmhand.
Search co-coordinator Sergeant Dene DUTHIE says a Police Search and Rescue team is combing the river banks and the dive squad will search an 800 metre sector to where a concrete dam is located.
"We believe there are no suspicious circumstances surrounding the young man's disappearance but we are definitely concerned for his safety and his whereabouts."
"The teenager was reported missing by his mother on Saturday morning after he failed to visit her as arranged. A search was carried out by friends and family members without success and the Police Search and Rescue team was called out yesterday afternoon to assist to locate the young man," Sergeant DUTHIE said.
The Police Search and Rescue team is comprised of members from throughout the Auckland Metro Region. Along with the Police National Dive Squad there are about 18 police personnel who are presently involved in the search.