The boy, who’s believed to be 15, was discovered by searchers in Abbey Caves, Whangārei.
The search was anticipated to conclude round 5pm yesterday, nonetheless, specialist tools that was introduced up from Auckland allowed the search to proceed for longer.
This helped allow searchers to find a physique, which was efficiently recovered late yesterday night.
Superintendent Tony Hill, Northland district commander confirmed the news on Wednesday morning.
Hill mentioned that whereas formal identification was but to happen, police have ensured the household was being provided help, and their ideas remained with them at this tragic time.
“We acknowledge this event has been very distressing for the school and wider community, and that there are a number of questions the public will have,” Hill mentioned.
“At the moment, police’s focus is on supporting those affected, and we remind people to please not make assumptions as to what has occurred.”
Cordons will stay in place round Abbey Caves as police conduct a routine scene examination.
According to a Stuff reporter on the scene on Wednesday morning, police have been briefly on the website once more however had passed by about 8.30am.
A couple of individuals who have members of the family on the faculty are on the website, holding a vigil till they discover out what occurred, together with Te Tai Tokerau MP Kelvin Davis.
Mata Harris mentioned she was ready to listen to the title of the boy.
She requested why the journey went forward when there was a climate warning.
“I think Whangārei Boys’ High School need to do some explaining,” Harris mentioned.
“Everyone is asking the same question, why did the kids go out’,” she mentioned.
Speaking on Tuesday afternoon, Hill mentioned the incident was “tragic”.
“Our thoughts are with the friends and family of the unaccounted for student and Family Liaison Officers and Victim Support have measures in place to look after them.
“The faculty can be being supported by the Ministry of Education’s Traumatic Incident Team,” Hill said.
On Wednesday morning, the Ministry of Education confirmed this, and said they would be “supporting the varsity’s management staff and will probably be obtainable for so long as wanted”.
“Our function is to help the varsity, and we’ll do no matter we will. Any investigation will probably be carried out by the suitable company or businesses,” the Ministry of Education’s Isabel Evans said.
Green Party MP Marama Davidson wrote on her Facebook page that she was “heartbroken” about the incident.
“I used to be holding deep hope that this whānau would have their tamaiti dwelling,” Davidson wrote.
“I do know we’ll all be sending like to this whānau and group. My boys are the identical age as this pupil and I’m so deeply heartbroken for all of them.”
Police first received a call about a group of 15 students from Whangārei Boys’ High School “in issue” in the cave at 10.26am on Tuesday.
On Tuesday, Stuff revealed that the group caught up in the floodwaters were meant to be rock climbing, but bad weather had forced the trip underground instead.
In an email sent to parents last Friday, the school’s head of outdoor education Stevie Huurnink said that due to “forecasted rain” they had to modify “deliberate journeys”.
“Initially, we had mountain climbing scheduled. This has been modified to caving,” the email said.
Parents were left wondering on Tuesday afternoon though, with one mother of a boy who saw his classmate swept away saying she had to wait hours to find out if her son was alive.
Whangārei Boys’ High School principal Karen Gilbert-Smith said on social media on Tuesday afternoon that the event had been “vastly upsetting” for the school.
The group who came out of the cave were being supported by emergency workers from Search and Rescue and St John Ambulance, Gilbert-Smith said.
Source: www.9news.com.au
