Father drowns trying to save son

The father of a 10-year-old boy has drowned trying to save the child from mud flats in a Manukau Harbour channel.

The tragedy happened at Green Bay tonight when a boy became stuck in the muddy channel just off the beach.

His father rushed out to help him but also became stuck.

A woman passing by waded into the water to help and managed to take the boy from his father as the muddy waters washed around them.

She pushed him to safety and then went to look for the man, but he had disappeared as his own body weight pulled him under.

When police arrived at the beach about 5.45pm, about 20 people were still looking for the man, who had been underwater for about 30 minutes.

A Navy dive squad were still looking for the man's body last night.

Sergeant Ian Brenchley said both the father and the woman were heroes.