Police say it is a "Christmas miracle" a missing boy was found unharmed and clinging to rocks during high tide at a Bay of Plenty beach.
With the help of the Coast Guard and a local helicopter team, the police managed to rescue the 14-year-old boy and reunite him with his family.
A police spokesperson said at around 8pm Saturday, officers received reports that a boy had failed to return from collecting shellfish off the rocks at Opape Beach near Opotiki.
The boy was last seen at 3pm the same day.
The tide was coming in and his family were concerned that daylight was running out and that he may have been swept from the rocks.
Police said the Coast Guard were contacted and their vessel was deployed from Opotiki for a shoreline search. Police search and rescue was called out from Bay of Plenty and a ground search was coordinated from Opape.
The local helicopter company, Motu Helicopters, with officers assisting on board was tasked to check the area until the Police Air Support Unit, Eagle, was available.
One hour later, the boy was found clinging to the side of the rocks at Opape Beach by a helicopter.
The pilot was able to manoeuvre the helicopter close to the steep rock face, allowing Constable Reuben Hennessy to get onto the rocks and then guide the boy down from the rock face into the helicopter.
The boy was reunited with his friends and family waiting at Opape. Luckily, he was not injured.
"It's a Christmas miracle that we found the young boy," Constable Hennessy said.
"It could have been a tragedy. His family are very relieved he's okay and back safely and so are we."
Constable Hennessy said the incident serves as a reminder for people to be prepared when fishing close to rocks or engaging in watersports.
Police search and rescue recommend people take life jackets and wear them, and take a mobile phone but keep it waterproof, such as in a plastic zip-locked bag.
The public is also urged to check the weather and tide conditions in advance of going out.
