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A police man looks for three people missing off the coast of New Plymouth. - Source: Taranaki Daily News -
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Teams are continuing with searches today to recover the bodies of three people missing off the coast of New Plymouth.
Instructor Bryce Jourdain, along with Spotswood College students Stephen Lewis Kahukaka-Gedye and Joao Felipe Martins De Melo, both 17, are presumed drowned after falling into the Tasman Sea off the coast of New Plymouth during a rock-climbing expedition on Wednesday.
Shoreline and marine search efforts are continuing four days after the disappearances, covering an area from Tapawai to Bell Block, Incident Controller Inspector Frank Grant said.
"We have Taranaki Surf Lifesaving inflatable rescue boats out on the water again today. Police staff in kayaks are also searching near the Port area.
Grant said the situation was being assessed daily, and said search teams were doing everything possible to return the bodies to their families.
"We're continuing to provide support and assistance to the families at this tragic time."
Bad weather in the area hampered search efforts yesterday, however rain has eased in the region today.