Searchers are continuing to look for Eroni Ravaga Gaunavou, 22, who has been missing since Sunday afternoon when he failed to resurface while swimming with friends off Akitio beach.
Sergeant Andy Brooke, Palmerston North Search and Rescue, said up to 60 people – many of them community members, friends and rugby club friends of the popular young Fijian man – are checking the beach at each low tide north and south of the point where Mr Ravaga Gaunavou was last seen.
“There’s a huge groundswell of local support who are doing their very best to find this young man so that he can be returned to his family,” Sergeant Brooke said.
“In the short time he has been in New Zealand to play rugby he has made many friends and everyone is pitching in to help.”
Further helicopter searches of the coast line continue.
Media enquiries should be referred to Kaye Calder, Public Affairs, PNHQ on 04 460 2986 or 027 241 6305.