A body has been recovered from Lake Wānaka where the national dive squad has been searching for a missing Korean swimmer.
The missing man is believed to be Korean national Mark Park, a former member of the Korean Navy, who was in Wānaka on holiday.
Mr Park went into the water early yesterday evening and shortly after that did not not resurface.
"While formal identification is yet to be completed, Police believe it is the body of the swimmer who was reported missing at around 6:30pm on Thursday, after failing to resurface," a police spokesman said.
The police dive squad and Wānaka Lakes Coastguard volunteers found the body about 1.30pm today after about 30 minutes of searching.
The Wellington-based dive squad members arrived in Wānaka around midday. They were briefed and prepared their equipment.
Before they entered the water about 1pm, the coastguard identified and marked with a buoy an area of interest on the lake bed near the swimming pontoon.
The divers swam to the buoy, about 30m off shore, and found the body in that area. The body was lifted onto the Coastguard boat and transported to the Wanaka Marina about 800m away, where friends and relations of Mr Park had gathered.
Members of the Queenstown Lakes contracted Waterways Patrol were also involved in the search and body retrieval.
Senior Sergeant Chris Brooks of Wanaka confirmed no rahui had been placed on the lake but a karakia was conducted at the lakefront on Thursday night, after the search for Mr Park was stood down.
Members of his family have flown to Wānaka and were seen on the shores of the lake this morning.
Police and other agencies were seen searching the area near Ardmore St.
- Additional reporting NZ Herald
