7 Feb 2016

Search for missing swimmer finished

9:08 pm on 7 February 2016

Police and Coastguard have called off their search for now for a man reported missing in the Waikato River last night.

The Police National Dive Squad and Coastguard volunteers have been searching for the man, whose identity is not known.

He was in the natural hot pools at Spa Park, near Taupo, then swam into the main flow of the river and did not get back to the bank.

Police said divers had been unable to find him and there was a chance he could have successfully swam from the park to a freedom camping area nearby.

They will now assess what to do next.