Body of man found after search off Hawke’s Bay coast

Surf lifeguards help search after a report of a body at Whirinaki. Photo / Ian Cooper

Police have recovered a body of a male after searching for over an hour off the coast north of Napier today.

The body was found about 10.15am and recovered from the beach at a point off the northern sector of Whirinaki Beach Rd.

The search, involving the Lowe Corporation Hawke’s Bay Rescue Helicopter, Coastguard Hawke’s Bay rescue craft the Celia Knowles and Surf Life Saving, with police on the coast, began when a couple reported seeing a body near the waterline about 8.30am.

But it soon appeared to have been carried out by the waves crashing close to the water’s edge, and the search started extending mainly to the south of the initial location.

About 10.15am, the helicopter landed near where police surrounded what appeared to be the body of a person on the beach. It was covered and removed soon afterwards.

Police media confirmed soon afterwards to Hawke’s Bay Today the body of a male was located on Whirinaki Beach and police were in the process of working to confirm his identity.

They had not commented on whether there had been any missing person reports which could be linked to the incident.

A helicopter assists in a search along the coast of Whirinaki.

By late afternoon, police had not released any further information relating to the identity of the man, whether anyone had been reported missing in relation to the event and if it was known how and when the man had entered the water.

Police left the area soon after the discovery.

Coastguard craft the Celia Knowles was back to sea late afternoon after another report of an object in the sea off Marine Parade, which was still being pounded by heavy seas.

President Henry van Tuel said from aboard the craft about 5pm it appeared the “object” must have been a log, and the crew was heading back to its base in the Napier inner harbour.