A fisherman who drowned after he was swept off rocks near Waihi Beach was wearing heavy clothing when he was pulled from the water.
Police have yet to name the 30-year-old Aucklander who was swept out to sea by a wave in front of three friends while fishing at Homunga Bay, north of Waihi Beach, about 7pm on Tuesday.
He was understood to be wearing a hooded jacket and boots with no lifejacket.
His friends could only watch helplessly as he was carried out to sea in 2m to 3m swells. A police spokesman said the group had to walk some way along the rocks to find a cellphone signal to ring for help.
A crew of off-duty Waihi Beach Surf Lifesaving lifeguards were notified and helped police retrieve the body, which they found floating about 200m offshore.