Search on for body of drowning victim

Police and emergency services have launched a search for the body of a man who drowned on Lake Pupuke, Takapuna at about 9.00pm tonight. 

The man got into difficulty approximately 50 metres off shore in the vicinity of the pump house. 

Several people went to assist the man but they could not manage to rescue him and he went under the water. 

The Westpac rescue helicopter attended the scene and carried out an extensive search of the area without success. 

The search has been called off for the night and will resume in the morning with Police or Navy divers.