Fisherman swept to his death

A fisherman has been swept to his death while fishing off the Otago Peninsula this morning.

Emergency services were called to Cape Saunders about 11.20am today after reports the man had been swept off the rocks at the popular fishing spot, said Senior Sergeant Craig Brown, of Dunedin police.

A helicopter and a water rescue team found the man's body in the water off the cape.

The man was believed to be in his 60s, Mr Brown said.

The man was the third person to be washed off the rocks in the past 12 to 18 months but the first fatality in some years, he said.

- NZPA