Police have called off the search for the Dunedin 16-year-old who is believed to have drowned in the Clutha River after a swimming incident yesterday afternoon.
Senior Sergeant Mike Cook said searchers had to leave the river as Contact Energy needed to release the build-up of water behind the dam.
The dive team is working with Contact energy to arrange a time for divers to re-enter the river tomorrow.
Police believe there is little chance of finding the missing youth alive. "We are looking for a body now," Snr Sgt Cook said.
The search for the youth at Roxburgh today involved the coastguard boat and jet skis on the water and a helicopter from Queenstown in the air.
Police are not yet releasing the name of the youth who disappeared in the Clutha River while swimming with a friend.
Contact Energy had lowered the river to help searchers more easily see among the willows which line the shores of the river.
Generation manager Graham Quinn said the river level was lowered yesterday afternoon at the request of the police to a flow of 260 cubic metres per second. The normal flow at this time of the year is 400 cumecs.
Operators were able to reduce to the flow by raising the level of Lake Roxburgh to above the maximum permitted level. Discussion had been held with the governing body the Otago Regional Council who "given the circumstances were very understanding,'' Mr Quinn said.
The river had been returned to normal flow overnight but was again lowered this morning when the search resumed.
