Drowning victim in Whanganui named as local teenager Chase Swanson

Police dive squad on the Whanganui River on Friday after a boy went missing in the river the night before. Photo / Bevan Conley

A 15-year-old boy has been named as the person who drowned in Whanganui late last week.

Teenager Chase Swanson, a local, has officially been identified as the person caught up in a water incident on the Whanganui River last Thursday.

"Police extend their sympathies to his family and friends," police said in a statement.

A police dive squad recovered the teen's body about 1pm on Friday.

The discovery came after emergency services were called to the scene about 7.15pm the night before after reports that a person was seen disappearing beneath the water and had not resurfaced.

As a result of the incident, a temporary rāhui was placed covering the area from Te Ao Hou marae, in Aramoho, through to the river mouth.

Chase's death has been referred to the Coroner.