Body recovery operation for teen swept out to sea

Ninety Mile Beach. Photo / Richard Robinson

A body recovery operation for a 16-year-old boy who was swept out to sea in Northland on Saturday afternoon is being launched today.

The boy was swept out to sea off 90 Mile Beach at Hukatere in the Far North. He had been swimming with family.

A police spokeswoman yesterday said police no longer considered there was an opportunity for rescue, and would be entering a body recovery phase from today.

Far North Surf Rescue chairman Dave Ross this morning told Radio New Zealand the swells on the day were 1.5 metres high and the family had been swimming in an area plagued by a rip.

"The rip extended out into the deep water behind the surf line...I don't think they realised there was a rip because it was quite clear, the water, which is indicative of a rip and unfortunately they did not read those signs I believe."

Police and volunteer searchers would today be scouring the shoreline for the boy's body, Mr Ross said.

"Given the nature of the of the beach and the location of where the young man went in, it'll be in the Hukatere Rd area and slightly north."

He expected the search to take up to three days. The boy's family were extremely distraught, Mr Ross said.

"The mother is just beside herself and so is the dad...the mother is just so distraught."

Hukatere Lodge owner Gabriele Pfaender rushed to the beach after hearing of the incident, fearing guests were involved.

She said she spoke to the boy's distraught mother.

"She was just crying and crying and somebody had her in their arms. It's terrible, it makes me sick to think about it," she told the Herald on Sunday

The current looked strong yesterday, Pfaender said.

"The sea is always different, one day it's like a lake and you can go in and other times it's a strong current and you wouldn't ... you've got to be careful in the water always."