The search for a 16-year-old Dunedin youth missing, believed drowned, in the Clutha River, near Roxburgh, will continue today.
The boy was swept away yesterday by a strong current about 2km below the Roxburgh dam.
Senior Sergeant Mike Cook, of Alexandra, said the youth was swimming with a friend just before 3pm when he got into difficulties and disappeared.
His friend called for help and police, fire and ambulance personnel were quickly on the scene.
About 20 people were involved in the search.
Temperatures yesterday were in the high 20s.
The pair entered the water at the intersection of Wright and Teviot Rds on the steep east bank of the fast-flowing river.
The river had carved shelves into the rocks under the water, Snr Sgt Cook said.
People could get stuck and it would be difficult to get out.
Roxburgh dam operator Contact Energy responded quickly to a call for help and lowered the river to help searchers.
Snr Sgt Cook said the search and rescue adviser for Central Otago, Owen Dance, of Roxburgh, was in Queenstown with a helicopter and a member of the Dunedin Water Rescue Squad and they responded immediately.
Searching the river's edges on foot was too dangerous, Snr Sgt Cook said.
"We're using a helicopter to search the edges, as there is no point in risking the lives of other people. We're battling current and temperature."
Despite the high temperatures yesterday, the water was cold.
Fire service personnel waited on the Millers Flat bridge, watching for any sign of the missing youth in the river.
Several jet-boats and a jet ski were also used to check the river, with one boat operating from Beaumont and others searching below Roxburgh.
The helicopter crew spent about an hour searching the river and then returned to Queenstown.
The search was called off when darkness fell.
Contact had been a great help by lowering the river, he said.
He was considering asking the power company to lower and raise the river to provide a hydraulic action.
"The change in river flow can sometimes release a person if they have been caught under the ledges."
