The family of a missing Mahurangi man face a heartbreaking wait for answers as police hunt for the driver swept away in a swollen river. 

Just before 8am yesterday, a vehicle was swept downstream at a Mahurangi River crossing on Falls Rd, near the intersection with Woodcocks Rd. 

The driver, who police this morning said was a man in his 40s from the area, was swept away, and a passenger in the vehicle managed to get to safety. 

The swollen ford on Falls Rd, Warkworth. A man and his vehicle are missing after being washed away at the crossing on Wednesday morning. Photo / Jason Dorday 

The vehicle and its driver remain unaccounted for despite a police-led operation that lasted most of yesterday but which was suspended overnight. 

Senior Sergeant Carl Fowlie said night-shift frontline staff conducted checks in the area overnight, but the man had not been found. 

Police Search and Rescue would return to the area once water levels had subsided and it was safe to continue the search. 

“We acknowledge they must be going through a very uncertain and upsetting time while he remains missing. Our thoughts are with them,” Fowlie said. 

Auckland Emergency Management general manager Adam Maggs acknowledged the ongoing search efforts on the Mahurangi River. 

“Our thoughts are with the family as this search is underway,” he said. 

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The police Eagle helicopter was expected to do a flyover of the river this morning. 

Yesterday, Senior Sergeant Dean Roberts told the Herald that, while finding the person was vital, the safety of emergency service staff was paramount. 

“We need to keep our staff safe, but we also need to appreciate the type of work we’re doing out here and knowing the risk.” 

Emergency services at the Wairere Scenic Reserve in Warkworth during a search for a man and his vehicle washed away at a river crossing on Falls Rd on Wednesday morning. Photo / Jason Dorday 

He said multiple resources were used in the search yesterday. 

“We’re using a lot of people just on the ground, but we also have the ability from our partner agencies, we’ve utilised drones just to assist with aerial. 

“The weather’s been a bit complicated for us, by using other resources, but we’re continuously reviewing it and trying to get as much as we can here.” 

About 20 people were helping, including firefighters, police officers, ambulance crew and whitewater rafters.