Waikato council worker drowns

Police have recovered the body of an Environment Waikato worker who drowned after falling off a wharf at Port Waikato today.

It was believed the 46-year-old Hamilton man had been attached to a ladder which fell into the water, dragging him under.

Police communications Inspector Chris Robinson told NZPA the dive squad was called out at 1pm today and the 46-year-old man's body was found at 7.35pm.

Environment Waikato chief executive Bob Lang told the Waikato Times the man was a contractor who had been installing a monitoring system in a tide-level recorder.

A colleague heard a splash and noticed the man was gone.

Mr Robinson said the man's name would not be released until his family was contacted.

Police and the Department of Labour were investigating.

- NZPA