Missing swimmer's body found in Whanganui River

Monday, 27 January 2020

The body of a man missing in the Whanganui River since Sunday afternoon has been found.

Although formal identification is yet to take place, police believe it is the man who failed to surface while swimming near Upokongaro.

Police will release the name of the man, a 24-year-old Israeli national, as soon as family have been notified.

His body was located near Mosquito Point area and carried up from the river.  A kaumatua performed a karakia before the body was put into a hearse. 

The search for the man entered its second day on Monday.

Emergency services were called to Mosquito Point, on Papaiti Rd near Upokongaro, about 10 kilometres north-east of Whanganui, after reports a swimmer had failed to surface at 1.20pm on Sunday.

A police spokeswoman said a search for the missing man was launched immediately, while other officers took statements from witnesses at Mosquito Point.

Police search and rescue, along with the coastguard and a rescue helicopter, searched for the missing man into the evening.

The search was suspended overnight at 7.45pm and resumed on Monday morning with the Police national dive squad joining the effort.

The man's death will be referred to the coroner.