Police hold grave concerns for a man who went missing while swimming in the Murrumbidgee River in NSW's west on Christmas Day.
The 25-year-old, said to be an Iranian asylum seeker, was camping with friends at Oura Beach near Wagga Wagga when he was swept away by a current about 6.45pm on Thursday.
One of the man's friends, aged in his 20s, managed to scramble to safety and contact emergency services.
Rescue volunteers and police divers resumed their search on Saturday morning.
"I think it's reasonable at this stage to assume police have serious concerns for the safety and welfare of that person," Acting Inspector Darren Brand told the ABC.
"It's always a recipe for danger when you have people who are perhaps inexperienced swimmers.
"The river was flowing at approximately five knots, which is a reasonable pace for that body of water to be flowing at the time, and if you put that together, as I say, with an inexperienced swimming background, it can be difficult."
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