Key Takeaways
- A man in his 40s was swept away in his vehicle by floodwaters at the Mahurangi River, near Warkworth, on Wednesday morning
- A search operation was conducted on Wednesday and overnight into Thursday, but the man and his vehicle remain missing
- Police have paused search efforts due to high river levels and will reassess on Friday
- The man’s family is being kept informed and supported by police during this uncertain and upsetting time
- Emergency services, including a police search and rescue team and drones, were deployed to assist in the search
Introduction to the Incident
Police have paused today’s search efforts for a man who was swept away in his vehicle by floodwaters north of Auckland on Wednesday morning. The incident occurred at the Mahurangi River, near Warkworth, at 7:41am, when the man’s vehicle was attempting to cross the river at a crossing on Falls Rd. A passenger managed to escape the vehicle and raise the alarm, but the driver, a man in his 40s from the wider Mahurangi community, was swept away and remains missing.
Search Efforts
A search operation was conducted on Wednesday and overnight into Thursday, with a police search and rescue team and drones deployed to carry out aerial searches. Despite these efforts, the man and his vehicle have yet to be located. Senior Sergeant Carl Fowlie stated that "unfortunately, the man and his vehicle have yet to be located and remain missing." The search operation was extensive, but the challenging conditions, including high river levels, made it difficult for the search team to locate the missing man.
Challenging Conditions
The high river levels have made it difficult for the search team to continue their efforts, and police have decided to pause the search until the water levels drop. Fowlie explained that "while the water level in the river has dropped about a metre today, conditions are still not suitable for further searching." The police will continue to monitor the water levels and reassess the search efforts on Friday. This decision is likely due to the safety risks associated with searching in high river levels, and the police want to ensure that the search team can conduct a safe and effective search.
Support for the Family
The police are in contact with the man’s family and are providing them with support during this uncertain and upsetting time. Fowlie acknowledged that the family must be going through a very difficult time, saying "we acknowledge they must be going through a very uncertain and upsetting time while he remains missing." The police are doing their best to keep the family informed and supported, and their thoughts are with them during this challenging time.
Ongoing Search Efforts
The police will continue to monitor the situation and reassess the search efforts on Friday. They will work to locate the missing man and his vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so. The incident serves as a reminder of the dangers of flooding and the importance of being cautious when driving in areas with high water levels. The police and emergency services are doing their best to locate the missing man, and the community is waiting with bated breath for any updates on the search efforts.
