Fisherman missing after two washed off West Coast rocks

Surf lifesavers and coastguard boats rushed to Whatipu at the Manukau Harbour heads at 10am today after a fisherman disappeared when he was washed off rocks.

The man was wearing waders when he and another person were washed off the Ninepin Rock at Whatipu. One of the pair was rescued by bystanders, but the other man was washed away and disappeared, said police.

Surf lifesavers from Auckland's west coast beaches responded to the incident and joined coastguard rescue boats and the Westpac rescue helicopter but the man was not found.

Police said no details of the missing man were available.

- NZPA