The teenage boy who vanished while swimming at a popular river in country NSW has been identified.
Taonashe Chivhaku, 16, was swimming in Macquarie River near Sandy Beach Road in Dubbo, in the state’s central west, on Monday evening.
Just 10 minutes later, at about 5.40pm, Taonashe was reported missing after he disappeared from view and could no longer be seen in the water.
A large-scale search involving multiple agencies including police rescue, SES, VRA Rescue and Orana Mid-Western officers, was launched to to find the teenager.
The search was suspended overnight and continued until 12.30pm on Tuesday, when his body was located.
A report will be prepared for the coroner.
Taonashe was an active member of the community and played for the Dubbo Junior Rugby Club.
The 16-year-old won the club’s ‘most improved’ award for a player in the under 16s category in September, last year.
