The teenager who drowned yesterday in Lake Pupuke on Auckland's North Shore was doing a 'second chance' course - on a youth programme run by the School of Business in Newmarket.
Police divers found the body of 16-year-old Raphael Alualu, who went missing yesterday at about 2.40pm, at around 10.30am today.
The teenager from Mt Roskill disappeared after jumping off a cliff in the Smales Quarry area of the lake with a number of others yesterday.
He resurfaced shortly after diving in, but then disappeared after having difficulties in the water.
The police dive squad was called up from Wellington to join the search for Alualu late last night.
Police said they had spoken to witnesses who saw Raphael dive into the swimming hole and investigations into the circumstances surrounding his death were continuing.
Raphael, who was of Samoan descent, was part of a youth programme at the School of Business in Newmarket, Auckland, and had gone to the lake with other students and staff.
The owner of the school, Lyndon Cooper, said Raphael was part of a "second-chance" course for 16 and 17 year-olds who had left high school without qualifications.
"I met him a few times, he was a bit of a quiet one but a really smiley sort of guy," Cooper said.
"For his course, he was quite an achiever in terms of credits he's got over the year."
Cooper said he had spent part of today with the family, while a minister performed a blessing over the lake after Raphael's body was recovered. The family sang as the boy's body was taken from the Lake.
"What a wonderful family. They're so warm and inviting and this is just so sad," he said.
"It was gut-wrenching today, and it really brings home what is important in life."
Victim support was available to everyone at the school, and there was a focus on helping students and staff who were at the lake when Raphael went missing, Cooper said.
"They were such a tight-knit crew on the course," he said.
"I think we'll see in all the photos and on all the cameras that were there beforehand just what a tight-knit team they are. It's been such a successful course and this is so devastating."
The school had launched an internal investigation, bringing in an independent specialist party to look at the school's practices.
Cooper said it was not yet clear whether the swimming hole trip had been planned, nor if the group had been there previously.
The police investigation was continuing, with officers today speaking to those who saw Raphael dive in.
"Accident waiting to happen"
The North Shore Squash club president Pat Menzies said the incident was an accident waiting to happen.
The club is next to the swimming hole and Menzies said it has spent thousands of dollars trying to stop people jumping into the lake.
"It is a beautiful spot down there and it attracts them. Where there is water there is going to be people and youths.
"I feel very bad. The kids were just having fun," he said.
He said the club has had a 2.5 metre fence built above the cliff but young people have cut it, dug holes underneath and bent it down.
After several drownings in the lake over the last decade, Menzies said something needs to be done but he is at a loss to know what that is.
The Fire Service senior station officer at Takapuna, Shaun Pilgrim, said people often misjudge the effects of jumping from a height of around 15 metres and are not prepared for the impact when they hit the water.
Pilgrim said people need to be kept out or at least be reminded of the dangers of swimming in fresh water. He said it is not as buoyant as salt water and it is easy to lose energy and get into trouble.
Latest NZ News Video
-
Dance to save Shakti service (0:41)
-
The changing face of farming (1:49)
-
ONE Weather 6pm update: 26 May (4:56)
