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Police are unclear what caused a man to get into difficulty and drown yesterday while he was while snorkeling at Goat Island Marine Reserve at Leigh, northeast of Auckland.
The 37-year-old Asian man was found by a friend, face down in the water. They had become separated while snorkeling.
The man was pulled onto Goat Island, but could not be resuscitated.
Westpac Rescue Helicopter paramedic Dave Grimshaw says conditions were good with clear water and no swell. The man appeared to be fit and well when he entered the water.
During last year';s Christmas season, there were 10 deaths due to drowning in 10 days. Water Safety New Zealand says the peak in drownings, which occurs at this time of the year, can partly be put down to warmer weather, combined with people moving into holiday mode and taking more risks.
- NEWSTALK ZB
