The boat was supposed to have returned to Pataua South. Photo/Peter Plaistowe
Police will resume the search in the morning for the second man who went missing off the Whangārei coast yesterday.
He was one of two people on a boat that had been expected to return to Pataua South, east of Whangārei, at 7pm on Friday.
Yesterday morning, target="_self" rel="" title="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/body-found-after-fishing-boat-went-missing-off-whangarei-coast/45ATKVIWARBHNBC5OBVATKA6MA/">the boat was found with no one on board and shortly after, a member of the public found the body of one of the missing men in the water.
Search and rescue crews, including the Police Dive Squad, and volunteers from Coastguard Tūtūkākā and Coastguard Whangārei have been searching all day, but have not found the second person, police said.
Detective Sergeant Paul Overton said LandSar and Coastguard were stood down this evening, however the dive squad continued until dark and will start searching again in the morning.
“I’d like extend my thanks the agencies that have been involved in the search, as well as the locals in the area who have been amazing.
“They’ve brought us food, and shown so much care for the families involved in this.”
A community Facebook page said the two people on the boat had set off from Pataua.
The post thanked search and rescue teams for their efforts overnight.
“The night has been long and profoundly worrying for all the whānau,” it said.
It then confirmed the search resumed this morning and put out a call to all boaties and coasties along the nearby coastline.
“We Urgently Need Your Help,” the post said.
“We are calling upon our entire network.”
“If you have a boat: We urge all our whānau, friends, and friends of friends with a boat to please come and help us search.”
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