Senior Sergeant Damion Rangituita, of the Police Waikato District Command Centre has advised that at about 4.00pm on Thursday 26th, police were called to a Raglan beach after reports of a swimmer in distress.
The 17-year-old had been swimming with two others off the southern end of Ngarunui beach near Wainui Rd when the trio got into difficulty.
Cory Edgecombe Lilley was part of the group of teenage boys enjoying the afternoon at Ngarunui Beach, off Wainui Beach Rd, on Thursday when he got into trouble about 4pm. They were swimming north east of the safe swimming area.
The 17-year-old, who police say had limited swimming ability, was pulled out in a rip current during low tide in what lifeguards say is the most dangerous spot on the west coast beach.
Search and Rescue, Coast Guard, Westpac Rescue Helicopter and members from Raglan Surf Life Saving club were involved in an extensive search of the coastline and open water.
The swimmer remained missing as emergency services concluded their search for the person on Thursday night. On Friday morning the search for the teenage boy missing in the waters off Raglan was called off and it moved into a body recovery phase, before being called oof.
Family of the Hamilton teen presumed drowned after getting caught in the notorious rip spot at Ngarunui Beach will continue a search to bring their boy home.