Piha drowning victim named

An Indian student who drowned at Piha beach west of Auckland on Saturday has been named.

Rajdeep Singh, 25, an Auckland University of Technology student who had been in New Zealand for two months, died about 12.45pm on Saturday.

It appeared Mr Singh was on an AUT outing when he became separated from his colleagues, Senior Sergeant Robert Cochrane of Henderson police said.

Mr Singh was believed to have either fallen into the water or been swept into the water by a wave.

He was found by lifeguards.

Piha is one of the most popular surf beaches near Auckland but it is also regarded as wild and at times dangerous.

- NZPA