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Family find man's body in river

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Sun, 22 Jan 2012 6:51p.m.

Whanganui River

Whanganui River

The family of a 34-year-old man swept down the Whanganui River more than a week ago have found his body.

The police dive squad recovered Duane Kaka's body on Sunday morning after family members saw it in the water during a boat search, about 5pm on Saturday, police say.

Mr Kaka was swept away on January 14 when he attempted to swim across the flooded river.

He had been with a group canoeing the river.

His family took over daily boat searches for Mr Kaka on Thursday, after land and water searches by police and volunteers.

Mr Kaka's family contacted police after they found his body about 1km from the Mangapurua landing, which is about 17km down river from where he went missing, police say.

Police divers were called in to retrieve it because of the dangerous location.

Mr Kaka's family have described him as an easy-going and generous man.

He was happy-go-lucky and "would give you the shirt off his back", they said.

NZN

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