Fisherman's body found

Police say relatives of a fisherman swept down the Motu River have found his body on the shore.

He was approximately 150m from the point of the river where he had gone missing, when they found him about 8.30pm

The man who lived locally was aged 41 and not 25 as previously reported.

He will not be named until police have confirmed that all next of kin have been notified.

Shortly before 2pm today, police were told that a man was missing in water at the mouth of the Motu River near Opotiki. Emergency services responded coordinated by police. An extensive search was carried out by helicopter and coastguard. 

Police said the man had been fishing with friends, and disappeared while attempting to cross the rivermouth. His companions are all safe.

A search began about 3.50pm and was called off for the night three hours later.