A man has died after getting into difficulty in the water outside the flags at a popular swimming beach in Northland.
Police were called to Ruakākā Beach at about 11.20am today following reports that a person was in trouble.
The Advocate understands that two members of the public reportedly headed out on surfboards to help the man, unconscious in the surf.
Life Saving New Zealand (SLSNZ) reported that lifeguards from Ruakākā launched an IRB to bring the man ashore.
SLSNZ Northern Region General Manager Zac Franich said the lifeguards carried out CPR and used a defibrillator.
