Divers scour river for missing kayaker

A police diver helps yesterday to recover the missing man's kayak from the Waihou River. Picture / Sarah Ivey

A police dive squad and a jet-boat searched about 20km of the Waihou River in South Waikato yesterday, in an attempt to recover the body of a 68-year-old Auckland man who was thrown from his kayak navigating a dangerous part of the river.

The missing man and his 71-year-old friend had previously paddled the river, but had never been in the stretch of water in which they got into difficulty about 11am on Wednesday.

Sergeant Jason Shailer of Putaruru police said the area they were looking in was treacherous, and it was likely it had taken the men by surprise.

"Both men were thrown from their kayaks. One of them managed to crawl to safety and sit on the rocks, but the 68-year-old has not been seen since."

The river's width suddenly narrows from 10m to about 1m, before becoming totally submerged beneath rocks, in what Mr Shailer described as a natural dam.

Logs and other debris added to the complications of the search.

"That's the problem," Mr Shailer said. "There's no air space under the rock. It's one place we are looking. The kayaks ended up just short of that area, probably only a matter of 5m upstream."

The water beneath the rocks exits in powerful rapids, before hitting a natural lagoon.

The Okoroire Hot Springs Hotel backs on to the river. Manager Hugh Rhodes said the chances of survival if thrown into the rapids or the submerged waterfall were "slim or none".

"It's a very, very dangerous piece of water. You don't expect anyone to survive that."

A sign warning of the river's dangers had been found under a bridge downstream. It had been either thrown in the water or washed away.

Steep bluffs, narrow gorges, rapid currents, and the 4m depth of the Waihou were hampering progress. In some parts of the water divers had to search by hand, rather than sight.

Abseiling gear was also being used to help gain access to parts of the river.

Members of the missing man's family had arrived in Putaruru to await developments, although his wife had remained in Auckland, Mr Shailer said. "They are not helping us with the search. There's not a lot they can do," he said. "In all reality we are looking for a body and not a survivor."

Police had spoken briefly to the surviving kayaker, but he was in shock at the time and further statements would be sought at a later time, Mr Shailer said.

The 71-year-old was admitted to hospital with bruises and cuts and mild hypothermia, but discharged early yesterday.