Body found after car discovered submerged and empty in Tairua River

A body has been found during the search for a man missing in the Tairua River.

The search had started last night when a car was found submerged off Hikuai School Rd, west of the Coromandel Forest Park.

Waikato police Senior Sergeant Simon Cherry had said the 72-year-old was reported missing at 5.30pm yesterday after leaving a friend's house.

His car was found empty about half an hour later.

Cherry said the man's body was spotted this morning after floodwaters receded down to about waist height overnight.

He was found underneath his vehicle, he said.

A search was carried out along the banks of the river but was suspended due to darkness.