Location:

Bay of Plenty

Please attribute to Inspector Nicky Cooney, Eastern Bay of Plenty Area Commander:

An operation is underway to locate a man who is unaccounted for following a water-related incident in Opotiki.

Police were called to the Waioeka River at around 5.30pm yesterday after a report that a man had fallen off his boat and was swept downstream.

Emergency services carried out an initial search of the area and located the vessel nearby.

A rescue helicopter and private helicopters were also engaged in the search, as well as local jet boat operators.