The scene at the beach on Friday morning. Photo: ADAM BURNS / RNZ
A person has been found dead in the search for a swimmer missing at a Christchurch beach.
A man's body was found at Southshore Spit, where the swimmer was last seen on Thursday afternoon, police confirmed.
Police said the person was believed to be the man who went missing.
Surf Life Saving New Zealand later confirmed surf lifeguards had recovered the body of a "teenage swimmer" from South Bank, Southshore at the end of Rockinghorse Road at about 6.20am on Friday.
Surf lifeguards had resumed search efforts about 20 minutes prior.
"The team at Surf Life Saving New Zealand extends our heartfelt condolences to the whānau and friends of the deceased.
"We are providing support to the surf lifesavers involved."
Coastguard Sumner said a search was launched for the swimmer on Thursday but conditions were challenging, with overcast weather, poor water visibility, and swells of up to two metres.
Search and rescue efforts were carried out on South Brighton Beach on Thursday by SAR squads from Sumner, Taylor's Mistake, North Beach and New Brighton, police, St John and Coastguard.
The body was found by a member of the public early on Friday. Photo: ADAM BURNS / RNZ
The search was suspended and volunteers were stood down last night.
A police spokesperson said the search was due to continue on Friday morning, but at 6am police received a report that a body had been found by a member of the public.
The person's death will be referred to the Coroner, the spokesperson said.
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