Source: Radio New Zealand
The Manawatū River. (File photo) 123RF
A large search operation for a man missing in the Manawatū River has been scaled back.
Police were called to a report of personal items abandoned in a suspicious manner on Albert St on Tuesday when officers spotted a man in the water.
They asked him to come back to land but he disappeared under.
A search has been ongoing since, and Palmerston North area prevention manager, inspector Phil Ward, said there had been extensive searches of the river, through to the Foxton Estuary and surrounding area.
Police would continue to conduct drone sweeps of areas of interest and patrols along Foxton Beach, Ward said.
Ward said police wanted to thank everyone involved in the search operation including Land Search and Rescue, Police Search and Rescue, Palmerston North Swiftwater Rescue, regional response teams, and Coastguard Manawatū.
“Police are continuing to provide support to the family of the man.”
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand