“I would like to acknowledge and thank the emergency services and lead agencies for their efforts in responding to this distressing incident.”
Crews searched for more than three hours in a multi-agency response before the body was found on the shoreline about 1.30am on Friday by a joint surf lifesaving and police search party, after a large search that began on Thursday night.
Coastguard Hawke’s Bay skipper Henry van Tuel said conditions were calm on the night.
Van Tuel, who was on the water during the operation, said their crew was activated by police later in the evening and deployed immediately.
“We had six on the boat and three in the radio room, so nine of us were involved ... We used our lights and night vision gear,” he told Hawke’s Bay Today.
“Surf [Lifesaving] came out and, of course, the police were searching as well. So, there was a lot of communication between all three agencies.”
The Coastguard boat spent about three hours on the water, and van Tuel said police had already begun searching on the beach before Coastguard arrived.
“Apart from being dark, it was very good conditions, the swell was less than a metre, very little wind,” he said.
“It wasn’t rough like Marine Parade where you get those big dumpy waves.”
Van Tuel said the body was located on the water line, “just where the waves come in”.
“Everything points to it being an absolute accident.”
Police are investigating and are appealing for information from anyone who may have seen the unattended boy on Thursday night.
“Also, if you have CCTV footage from the area that could be of assistance, please get in touch,” Detective Sergeant Ryan Kemsley, of Hawke’s Bay Crime Squad, said.
