Lake Pupuke - Search For Missing Diver

North Shore Police are at Lake Pupuke where the search for a missing diver continues.

Police and emergency services went to Lake Pupuke at about 2.00pm Friday 15 July 2011 after reports that some divers who were on a training exercise in the lake were missing.

An exhaustive land and lake search was activated. Later in the afternoon the body of a male diver was recovered from the lake by members of the Police Maritime Unit. The body was taken to the Auckland Mortuary where an autopsy on the deceased will be carried out today.

The body of a second diver has not yet been located and is the subject of the continuing search.

The Police National Dive Team arrived at the lake last night but the conditions were considered unsuitable and the search was called off for the night.

The National dive team and the Police Maritime Unit have now deployed a barge with platform and this is to be stationed about 100 metres from shore on the southern side of the lake.

Specialist sonar equipment is being used to search for the missing diver in depths of more than 30 metres. Police carried out a further shoreline search of the lake earlier this morning.

Police ask the public to stay well clear of the police operations on the lake. Cordons are in place to prevent access to the area where the search is in progress. Victim Support is assisting the dive party members and the next of kin.

Police have now released the name of the deceased diver whose body was recovered yesterday. His name is:

NORTH/ Tyrone
Aged 37 Years
Resident of South Auckland:

The name of the missing diver has not yet been released.

Police will make further comment on the continuing search this afternoon.