24 Jan 2017

Police suspend air and water search for missing boatie

5:57 pm on 24 January 2017

Police have suspended their air and water search for a missing boatie off Otaki Beach.

Police said a boat overturned about 150m off the river mouth near Otaki Beach (file photo).

Police said a boat overturned about 150m off the river mouth near Otaki Beach (file photo). Photo: Google Maps

The man, in his 30s, disappeared yesterday afternoon when the small inflatable boat he and his companion were in capsized off Otaki Beach.

The body of another man, aged in his 50s, was recovered yesterday afternoon.

Police said a limited search of the shoreline would continue at low tide for the next few days.

They said earlier today that the search was probably now a recovery operation.

Central District search and rescue co-ordinator Sergeant Bill Nicholson said the men, from the Taranaki area, were not wearing lifejackets when the boat capsized.

Sea conditions were rough and the Otaki River was running high.

"I think we have to be realistic," he told Morning Report. "We put in a big effort yesterday and no sign of them."

Two surf-lifesaving boats and a plane were used in today's search, along with four-wheel-drives on land.

The search area ranges from Waikawa Beach to Paraparamu.