23 Apr 2024

Search for person missing from boat on Waitaki River

1:36 pm on 23 April 2024
13228529 - waitaki river, kurow, new zealand

The Waitaki River. Photo: 123rf.com

Search and rescue teams are continuing to comb waters near the Waitaki river mouth for a man missing since Monday night.

Police were first alerted to reports of the fisherman who did not return from a day fishing trip on the Lower Waitaki River at about 7pm.

Several agencies including Otago rescue helicoper, North Otago land search and rescue, South Canterbury Coastguard and Aoraki police search and rescue all coordinated search efforts overnight.

Senior Sergeant Antony Callon said police were providing support to the missing man's whānau and friends.

The river in the South Island is a large braided river that runs 209km long.