Police praise community for support of search effort

The community of Akitio is being praised for its support of efforts to find a missing swimmer.

Eroni Ravaga-Gaunavou, 22, from Fiji has been missing since Sunday afternoon when he failed to resurface while swimming off Akitio beach with two friends.

Searches continued last night with teams out on the beach at low tide.

Today members of Surf Life Saving will be back on the water carrying out more searches of the surf line using to rigid inflatable boats (RIBs) assisted by two Police search and rescue officers.

Either side of low tide volunteers will be on the beach searching north and south of the point where Mr Ravaga-Gaunavou was last seen. This process will continue for a few days with teams made up of local residents, fire volunteers, farmers and fisherman.

Further helicopter searches of the coast line are likely later in the week.

Police would like to extend their thanks to the local community who have not only been giving up their time to help with the searching, but have been providing food and beds in homes and holidays homes for the search parties.