Fisherman helpless as friend swept off rocks

An Auckland fisherman says he has never felt as helpless as he did on Sunday night when he watched his friend being swept off the rocks at Muriwai.

"I couldn't even save him. I didn't feel scared or anything, I just felt hopeless."

The fisherman, who does not want to be named, was speaking yesterday about the circumstances which claimed the life of his friend Wen Hai Wu.

The two men had gone to Flat Rock, a favourite fishing spot for the past six years, about 9pm, to try their luck under the full moon.

But by 9.30pm a large swell and waves crashing on to the rocks at the southern end of the beach made fishing too dangerous.

The pair, accompanied by two other friends, decided to leave.

The man said he was making his way down a step when a wave came, picked up his three friends and dumped them back on to the rock.

Two of the friends grabbed hold of the rock but Mr Wu was swept into the sea.

"Hai was unable to hold on. I was at the front of the group and didn't know until he yelled out. At that stage it was extremely dangerous because the water was so rough."

Although Mr Wu could swim the sea was too rough and the 37-year-old - who was wearing waders, a jacket and backpack - was last seen struggling in the water about 3m from the rocks.

"I called 111 on a cellphone," said his friend.

"We couldn't save him because we didn't know what to do. I felt just hopeless."

Six Muriwai lifeguards rushed to the beach with police and the Westpac Rescue helicopter.

Surf Lifesaving Northern Director Emma Roberts said one lifeguard entered the water but could not find Mr Wu in the unusually high tide.

It was too rough to launch an inflatable boat.

Under the rescue helicopter's spotlight, searchers found his backpack.

His body had not been found yesterday.

Mr Wu is survived by his wife and four children, who are believed to be aged between 3 and 13.

He came to New Zealand from China about 14 years ago, lived in West Auckland and sold fruit and vegetables.

His friend said the pair often went fishing at Muriwai, despite the warnings.

"That rock is quite famous for catching fish. I hear a lot of stories about people drowning there but I still fish there."

Now that has changed.

"I am very sad. Now that I have seen [my friend drown] I don't want to go back. You never know what's going to happen."

In the past 20 years, more than 300 people have drowned around the country while fishing, several of them at Muriwai.

Ms Roberts said Muriwai, about 40 minutes northwest of Auckland, was one of the most dangerous beaches and night fishing was not recommended.

Of the five drownings there since 2000, all but one involved people fishing or collecting shellfish from the notorious rocks, which jut out over the surf.

Plans are being drawn up to improve the signs warning of the dangers there.

Muriwai drownings

* March 2000: Fishing from rocks.

* July 2002: Fishing from rocks.

* January 2004: Swimming outside flags.

* August 2004: Collecting shellfish from rocks.

* October 2005: Fishing from rocks.