17-year-old drowns at Auckland's Hunua Falls

Saturday, 19 March 2016

Friends of a 17-year-old who drowned at Auckland's Hunua Falls are paying tribute to him online.

Police are yet to name the young man, whose body was recovered by police divers on Sunday morning.

Friends and family have taken to social media to mourn the loss of a brother, cousin and mate.

'I miss you so much, my heart is so broken and right now all I wanna do is just hug you,' a friend wrote.

'Rest in love my friend … was a blessing too have met and spent time with you,' said another.

Police said a group of young people were swimming at the falls when the young man found himself in difficulty around 6pm on Saturday. 

A friend and two members of the public had tried to reach him, but despite their efforts he slipped underwater.

Members of the Police National Dive Squad recovered the body of the teen shortly after 10am on Sunday.

The friend who attempted to help was transported to Middlemore Hospital in a moderate condition by the Westpac Rescue Helicopter.

The swimming hole where the young man is missing was guarded by police overnight, and there was no access to the site.

Police would not release the young man's identity, but said his family was being supported by Victim Support.

At least 16 other people have drowned at the falls. 

The last reported death was in 2013 after a 20-year-old Indian man lost his footing at the top of the falls and slipped. 

Prior to that, father of two, 46-year-old Craig Carter was killed after jumping off the top of the falls in 2009. 

In 2008, park ranger Tony Oliver said 14 people had died from jumping from the top of the waterfall, many others had also been injured. 

Hunua Falls is a popular swimming spot, but last month rangers were prompted to release a safety warning after life rings put there for swimmers' safety were removed. 

Nine life rings had been removed from the spot since December.

The incident brings New Zealand's drowning deaths up over 30 this year.