Police name drowned swimmer

Police have named the 20-year-old who drowned while swimming in the Waikato River near Taupo yesterday.

He was Benjamin John Lucas, of Kinleith, near Tokoroa, in the south Waikato

Mr Lucas was swimming with a friend about half a mile upstream from the Huka Lodge, when he got into difficulty and was unable to get back to shore, police said.

He was eventually pulled out of the water unconscious shortly before 4pm, but attempts to resuscitate him failed.

- NZPA