Man tries in vain to rescue drowning brother

A Hawera man tried in vain to rescue his brother after a fishing accident at a Taranaki river mouth yesterday.

Police say a 19-year-old drowned after he jumped into the water to retrieve a fishing line at the end of the northern breakwater at Patea River just before 5pm.

The man's 22-year-old brother dived in to save him but eventually had to give up, exhausted.

The older man then climbed back on to the rock breakwater while a nearby boat pulled the drowning man from the chilly water and dragged him ashore, the Taranaki Daily News reported.

Despite prolonged CPR from both rescuers and emergency services, the man could not be revived.

Sergeant Royston Betteridge, of Hawera police, said the man's name would not be released until extended family had been notified.

- NZPA