Holiday ends in tragedy

Ieremia Galuvao. Photo / Supplied

The young sons of a man who drowned attempting to retrieve their boogie board last night paid tribute to their father.

Ieremia Galuvao, of Papakura, was swept out to sea by a rip at Ahipara, at the southern end of Ninety Mile Beach in Northland, during a family holiday on Friday.

The 40-year-old is the cousin of league star Joe Galuvao, who is in pre-season training with the Manly Sea Eagles.

His 15-year-old son Andrew Galuvao said his father had gone for a swim with his 11-year-old brother Enoka.

His father had attempted to recover Enoka's boogie board but was caught in a strong rip.

Andrew said his father was not a strong swimmer.

"It was only five minutes and he was lost."

Two kayakers attempted to help Galuvao, but could not reach him in time and returned to shore.

"The kayakers were coming in and they saw him bobbing in the water," said Andrew. "That's when I ran to him and I pulled him out."

Surf lifeguards and passers-by tried to revive Galuvao but he was pronounced dead at 3.30pm.

Andrew said his father's last day was a happy one - he was still bragging about winning a family game of Monopoly.

The holiday marked the first time he had visited Cape Reinga.

"He said it was the most beautiful thing he'd seen," said Andrew.