A man rescued from the water near Haumoana on Sunday evening was taken to Hawke's Bay Hospital in a critical condition and later transferred to hospital in Christchurch.
A police spokesperson said a man was reported in difficulty in the water off Haumoana Beach about 8pm. The man had reportedly become paralysed while surfcasting alone and may have been floating in the water for more than 30 minutes before being discovered in the waves by a woman who also found a dog tethered to a fishing rod in the sand.
She informed an off-duty police officer living in the area and the man was heard calling for help as the officer approached.
A Te Whatu Ora spokeswoman said a man in his 40s was later transferred from Hawke's Bay to Christchurch. No further condition details were available.
