Drowning (Sea) in Wellington District, 8:00am

This morning a 68 year old Wellington man has drowned after swimming out from Kapiti Beach to check fishing nets.

A colleague who was on the beach at the time raised the alarm after losing sight of him approximately 50 metres off shore.

Emergency services including Police, Kapiti Coastguard and Westpac Rescue Helicopter were deployed.

Initial reports indicate that he may have been in the water for approximately 30 minutes before his body was located about 50 metres north of the fishing nets.

He was wearing a wet suit at the time.

Weather conditions were fine at the time and sea conditions were smooth.

The details of the person will not be released until next of kin have been advised.