Searchers continue to scour Auckland beach after teen swimmer swept out to sea

Tuesday, 1 January 2019

Emergency services continue to search for a 16-year-old swept out to sea on Saturday.

Leka Pasiaka went missing off Whatipu beach in West Auckland after getting caught in a strong current.

A police spokeswoman said on Tuesday that emergency services were still scouring the beach for any sign of the teen.

'Coastguard is searching the northern end, with the Police Eagle helicopter and fire [service] searching the southern banks at low tide,' she said. 

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'I understand Surf Life Saving is conducting a general search.'

Family members and friends have been paying tribute to Leka on Facebook, and were remaining hopeful that the teenager would be found.

'Please come home already, we can't stop thinking about [you and] how cold [you are] in the ocean,' a family member wrote. 

'Please Lord help him find his way back.'

Over the weekend, surf lifesavers in the northern region – which covers the area between Cape Reinga and Raglan – rescued 15 people from the water in total.

On Saturday, two people were rescued at Sunset Beach at Port Waikato.

On Sunday, 10 people were rescued at Muriwai on Auckland's west coast, one at nearby Piha, and one at Whangarei Heads.