Police divers will tomorrow resume the search for a 16-year-old Dunedin youth missing, presumed drowned, in the Clutha River.
The youth was swimming with a friend 2km below the Roxburgh dam about 3pm yesterday when he was swept away by strong currents.
A police dive squad was called
in from Wellington this morning to help about 20 people who were searching the riverbanks and using boats and jet skis to search the river itself.
Contact Energy reduced the river flow to lower its level and help searchers see more easily among the willows which line the riverbanks.
Generation manager Graham Quinn said the river flow was returned to normal overnight but was lowered again today when the search resumed.
Lowering the river level resulted in Lake Roxburgh rising above its maximum permitted level.
This was given the go-ahead after discussion with the Otago Regional Council, which governs the river.
Senior Sergeant Mike Cook, of Alexandra police, said the missing youth was in the area for fruitpicking work and had family there.
It was a huge tragedy for them but they were being realistic about it, he said.
- NZPA
