Fisherman drowns in Northland

A middle-aged fisherman drowned after losing his footing and getting swept out to sea on an otherwise perfect day in the far north yesterday.

The man was net-fishing in the afternoon with three or four friends at Tauroa Point, Ahipara Bay, about 14 kilometres south-east of Kaitaia, Northland Emergency Services Trust rescue helicopter pilot Peter Turnbull said.

The man had seemingly lost his footing on the undulating sea floor, possibly slipping into a small trench.

Rescuers had already found the man's body and brought it to shore when the helicopter arrived, leaving it to carry the man's body to hospital.

"What struck me was how it was such a beautiful day -- calm, not a cloud in the sky, the sun was shining. It shows how these things can happen," Mr Turnbull said.

- NZPA