No sign of missing whitebaiter

Victor Boraman was swept into the sea at the Rakaia River mouth. Photo / Supplied

There's still no sign of Victor Boraman, the whitebaiter who went missing from the Rakaia River mouth 10 days ago.

Mr Boraman was swept out to sea while whitebaiting with friends at around 7pm on October 7.

A Westpac Rescue Helicopter came agonisingly close to rescuing him after about an hour in the water. They had him in their sights, but a wave took him away and the 21-year-old has not been seen since.

A Coastguard fixed wing aircraft and Land Search and Rescue volunteers on quad bikes searched the shore line from Monday until Friday and found no trace. The search was officially suspended on Saturday.

Christchurch Police Sergeant Ryan O'Rourke, search coordinator, said Mr Boraman's death has been referred to the coroner.

It was now simply a case of wait and see as to whether his body did wash up on the coast, and Mr O'Rourke said he had received no reports of any sign of Mr Boraman since the search was suspended.