A body has been found during the search for a father swept away in the Kaipara Harbour last weekend.

About 2.45pm yesterday, police found a dead person near the wharf on Shelly Beach Road.

While formal identification is yet to be carried out, police believe it is the young father who disappeared into the water on April 19.

Police have been searching for the Auckland resident since he was pulled into a strong current while trying to retrieve his fishing gear.

“Our thoughts are with the man’s family and loved ones at this difficult time,” a police spokesperson said.

“Police would like to thank all those who assisted with the search for the man.”

Rodney Local Board member Mark Dennis told the Herald the man was a “young father and brother” who was fishing with his family on the wharf.

Dennis said the current in that part of the harbour was “incredibly strong”, even for strong swimmers.

“If you go off that wharf into the outgoing current, it is incredibly hard to get back in, and that brought him out.”

Coastguard air patrol and volunteer crews assisted police to search an approximate area of 25km, extending from the mouth of the Kaipara River to Mosquito Bay.

• Young dad missing from north Auckland beach swept away while retrieving fishing gear
• Police confirm body found in flood search is Philip Sutton