Man critical after jumping from Cornwallis Wharf into shallow water

A man in his 20s was transported in a critical condition after diving into shallow water in the Manukau Harbour yesterday. Photo/Auckland Westpac Rescue Helicopter.

An Aucklander who performed CPR on a man who wound up in a critical condition after jumping into the Manukau Harbour has described the scene at Cornwallis wharf as "chaotic".

The man who was injured after jumping into shallow water in the Manukau Harbour remains in a critical condition.

However, an Auckland Hospital spokeswoman confirmed the man, in his 20s, was now stable.

The man was pulled unconscious from the water below Cornwallis wharf by members of the public around 6pm yesterday while emergency services were called.

A witness, who did not want to be named, told the Herald the man had already been pulled from the water when he got to him.

"I checked for vitals - he wasn't breathing or responsive and no pulse so I began CPR," the man said.

"It was all a bit chaotic with woman and kids screaming - I don't remember much."

"I then ran back up to the car to move it as I had just driven up from the beach and I was blocking the boat ramp."

The witness said he left when the helicopter showed up and medical staff were attending to the patient.

He observed the helicopter arrived on scene "very quickly" and he was only doing CPR for around five minutes.

He was not around to see the man initially fall off the wharf, but said the tide was "very, very" low.

"He was quite far along where he either fell off or dove off."

Emergency services prepare a man for transporting in the chopper after diving into shallow water at Cornwallis Wharf in the Manukau Harbour yesterday. Photo/AWRH

A spokesperson from the Auckland Westpac Rescue Helicopter said a crew responded six minutes after being called to the scene, having been diverted from a nearby job.

The crew's intensive care paramedic and doctor stabilised and intubated the man to help with his breathing.

He was then airlifted to Auckland Hospital where he today remains in a critical but stable condition.