A swimmer has been taken to hospital in a serious condition after nearly drowning at Piha Beach west of Auckland.
St John Ambulance said it was called to the beach about 1pm and took the victim to the emergency department at Auckland Hospital.
The spokeswoman did not know whether they had been in the sea or a pool.
Auckland District Health Board said the patient was an adult male who is now in a "stable" condition.
Police, the Piha Surf Lifesaving Club and Surf Lifesaving's northern region duty manager were not told, which they should have been if someone got into difficulty in the sea.
