17 Oct 2010

Missing rafter found dead

5:42 am on 17 October 2010

A man who went missing on the Motu River near Whakatane on Friday, has been found dead.

Terry Wayne Mason, 44, fell out of a raft, along with three companions who managed to scamble back in.

Ground search teams and a helicopter had been looking for him since Friday afternoon.

Police say a further search by helicopter on Saturday morning located his body about 18km downstream from where he fell from the raft.

The body was recovered by jet boat.