Wednesday, 9 January 2013 - 8:20pm |
Bay of Plenty

Search underway for missing swimmer

1 min read

Police are urging everyone to take extra care around water as another rescue gets underway for a missing swimmer.

At approximately 6.15pm today police were notified of a man missing near the Full James Rapids downstream of the Aratiatia Dam on the Waikato River in Taupo.

The man believed to be an Australian tourist in his 20s was staying in the area with a group of people. He went for a swim and then started calling for help. A female companion ran to the riverbank but the man disappeared from view.

A Rapids Jet boat is currently searching the waterway with Police and Coastguard personnel on board, The Taupo Harbourmaster is utilising a jet ski and Taupo Coastguard are also using a Mighty River Power rigid inflatable.

Media enquiries should be referred to Communications Manager Kim Perks on 027 234 8256.