Still no sign of missing swimmer

A swimmer is still missing off the Tararua coast despite intensive searches today.

The 22-year-old man disappeared while swimming with two other men off of Akitio beach yesterday afternoon.

Helicopters Hawkes Bay flew the area this morning and again at low tide this afternoon. The Police National Dive Squad has also attempted searches today but the rips and swells are too strong to make a dive search effective. The long range forecast is not good in terms of further dive attempts.

Over the coming days local volunteers will continue to search along the coastline and Police will look for air search opportunities.

In the meantime Police are working actively to locate and notify the parents of the missing man. As soon as it is confirmed that his family have been advised, the name will be released. At this stage it is looking unlikely that the parents will be located and notified today.

Until the name can be officially released, Police would ask any media organisations who have the name to refrain from publishing it out of respect for the man's family.