Man drowns at Piha

A 25-year-old male has drowned while swimming on his own North of Lion Rock at West Auckland’s Piha beach.

At approximately 12.45pm a member of the public noticed a swimmer in difficulty and raised the alarm with Surf Lifeguards who were on patrol at South Piha where the majority of beach-goers swim. Surf Lifeguards responded immediately in an IRB and retrieved the man who was unresponsive and not breathing.

Surf Lifeguards administered CPR for a considerable time until the Westpac Helicopter arrived but the man was unable to be revived and pronounced deceased by Paramedics. The man was not swimming in a patrolled area.

There have been 5 drownings so far this summer on Auckland’s notorious West Coast beaches.