Divers search for man at falls
The Police Dive Squad has been called in to the search for a man who went missing at the Whanga¯rei Falls.
Police were called to the falls in Tikipunga at around 4.30pm yesterday. A man went under the water while swimming and failed to surface.
Whanga¯rei Falls is a popular swimming spot over the summer as well as a tourist attraction.
One woman, who did not want to be named, said she was walking her dog at the falls and while she did not see what had happened, she heard a lot of screaming.
Police, Fire and Emergency and St John Ambulance crews arrived at the scene shortly after, she said.
The woman said someone had told her they were looking for someone in the water.
Groups of people had initially gathered at two viewing platforms at the top of the falls and were looking down at the base of the falls, before police ushered them back and cordoned off the area.
The woman said a group of people were also gathered at the bottom of the falls.
An ambulance at the scene left at around 5.25pm.
At edition time yesterday the search for the man had been halted for the evening. The swimmer had not been located.
Police said a guard would remain at the scene overnight and the search would resume today with the dive squad.
The falls will be closed until the search operation is completed.