A man's body was pulled from a popular Tauranga lake this evening but the grim search continues for another missing swimmer.
Police say two men were seen going into the water at McLaren Falls Park, Kaimai, around 5.20pm.
One fell from a rope swing into the water and got into difficulty. The other then went into help him.
Both disappeared from view beneath the water. One body has now been recovered. Police said the man was believed to have drowned.
A group of six friends, all students from India living locally, gathered at the entrance to McLaren Falls Park after receiving a call informing them that two of their associates had gone missing.
They understood the body of one of their friends had been recovered but the other was still missing when spoken to about 7.30pm. Two other friends were helping police with the search.
"It's a huge tragedy," one said.
The entrance to McLaren Falls was closed tonight, with two men overlooking the canal at the end of the lake.
A reporter at the scene said the lake level was being lowered to aid the search and had already dropped by about a metre.
A rescue helicopter was searching overhead and a boat was in the water and looking for the missing person.
Trustpower TECT Rescue helicopter pilot Liam Brettkelly told the Herald the helicopter was called about 5.45pm.
One body had been recovered by the time the chopper arrived. It had a long search over the lake but was unable to find the second person.
"We've had no success at this stage and are now heading back to base," Mr Brettkelly said.
"It's not a big area and we've had a really good look."
He said the lake had some deep areas which the helicopter staff would not be able to see into.
McLaren Falls Park is 10 minutes' drive out of Tauranga City. It features 190 hectares of pastoral and horticultural parkland set alongside Lake McLaren.
Tauranga Council's website says the park is popular for camping, fishing, kayaking, wedding photos, picnics, bush walks and summertime concerts. It is also home to one of the best botanical collections of trees in the North Island.
The Ambulance Service referred the Herald to police. A police spokesman said mobile phone coverage was intermittent tonight with personnel on the ground and details were still scarce.
