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Swimmer missing in Whanganui river

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Sun, 15 Jan 2012 1:41p.m.

Searchers continue to look for a man swept away in the Whanganui River

Searchers continue to look for a man swept away in the Whanganui River

Searchers are continuing to look for a man swept away in the Whanganui River.

The 34-year-old man attempted to swim across the river with another person but was swept away about 1pm on Saturday, police say.

The pair were part of a group of canoeists who had been on the river below John Coull Hut in Whanganui National Park.

A helicopter and boats began scouring 87km of the river, between Whakahoro and Pipiriki, on Saturday.

Four boats and the Fly My Sky helicopter resumed searching on Sunday morning, while police and volunteers scoured riverbanks.

The river was in flood when the man was swept away, police said.

The water level was dropping on Sunday, but the river was still in flood and the water was murky.

It was possible the man managed to get ashore and police asked river users and trampers to keep an eye out for signs of him.

He was dressed only in shorts.

NZN

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