Police searching for a teenager in the Coromandel have found a body in a waterway in Whitianga.
Whitianga's Aquila Drive was cordoned off this afternoon by police searching for 19-year-old Lucas Cochrane. Photo: Google Maps / Supplied
Lucas Cochrane, 19, was last seen on Saturday night at a function at the Whitianga Fire Station.
Teams have been searching fields and waterways in the town since Sunday.
This afternoon, a hat that Mr Cochrane was thought to have been wearing when he went missing was found near a canal, and a cordon was put in place on Aquila Drive.
The body was believed to be that of the teenager but had not yet been formally identified.
Eastern Waikato area commander John Kelly said until today Mr Cochrane's family had been holding onto hope.
"Sadly the news isn't good, it's a starting point for them to move on, they're devastated, at the same time they are extremely thankful and grateful to the support that has been around them."
The police and Mr Cochrane's family said they wanted to thank those who had been involved in the search during the past few days.
They said the outpouring of support from the community had been overwhelming.
The death will be referred to the coroner.
