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Rakia - Media Release

Monday 8 October 2012, 6:07PM

By New Zealand Police

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CANTERBURY

The search for a missing whitebaiter in Canterbury is continuing.

21 year old Victor Edward BORAMAN from Ashburton was swept into the sea at the Rakaia River mouth about 7.00 pm last night (Sunday 7 October).

This morning Police conducted an air search along the coastline looking for any trace of Mr BORAMAN.  During the day LandSAR volunteers from Rakaia and Ellesmere have been searching the shoreline using quad bikes.  They will search again at low tide around 4.30 pm this afternoon.

Coastguard Canterbury Air Patrol will also conduct an air search along the shoreline using a fixed wing aircraft at the same time.

No trace of Mr BORAMAN has been found since last night, when the Westpac Rescue Helicopter crew located Mr BORAMAN in the water, but were unable to effect a rescue.

Mr BORAMAN had been whitebaiting with two friends at the river mouth when he was swept into the sea.  The Westpac Rescue Helicopter from Christchurch was tasked to search for him and with the assistance of spotters on the shore, located him after he had been in the water for about an hour.

However as the helicopter was attempting a rescue Mr BORAMAN was hit by a large wave and sucked under the water.  Weather and sea conditions were very poor at the time, and made searching difficult.

The operation is continuing and further shoreline searches are planned for tomorrow.

The matter will be referred to the Coroner in due course.