"Missing Person - Waikato River Taupo - Bay of Plenty"

Search for man missing in Waikato River at Taupo

Taupo Police, with the Greenlea Rescue helicopter, Coastguard Lake Taupo and LandSAR Taupo volunteers have tonight searched for a man missing in the Waikato River.

Police were alerted just before 9pm that a man who had been in the natural hot pools at Spa Park, had swum into the main flow of the Waikato River, but did not get back to the river bank. Efforts to find him tonight have so far been unsuccessful. The Police National Dive Squad will assist with the search tomorrow.

At this time Police do not know the identity of the missing man, and Senior Constable Barry Shepherd said "Police would be grateful for any information from anyone, who could help to identify him". Police have received credible information from other swimmers at the hot pool who witnessed his disappearance about 200 metres downstream.
However if this person has swum successfully from Spa Park to Reids Farm, Police are pleading for him to call.
"Anyone with information should phone 111 and ask for Police".

The natural hot pool at Spa Park is where the Otumuheke Stream flows into the Waikato River, and is a popular attraction for Taupo locals and visitors. There were about 20 people there tonight when the man went missing.

ENDS

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