Police release name of 7-year-old who drowned at Raglan

The boy died at Raglan's Wainui Beach. Photo / File

Police have released the name of the 7-year-old boy who drowned at Wainui Beach in Raglan yesterday.

He was Logan Recce Tuson, from Hamilton.

"Logan was spending the day at the beach with family when he got into difficulty in the water and was swept into the harbour channel," police said.

His body was recovered soon after following a search by Coast Guard, Surf Life Saving, the Westpac Rescue helicopter crew, and members of the public.

"Unfortunately, he was unable to be revived once he was on shore."

Logan's death was the 10th water-related incident in New Zealand in just under three weeks.

Waikato search and rescue co-ordinator Sergeant Vince Ranger said the boy was last seen swimming off the beach when he was swept into the bar area.

"He was located an hour later by the Westpac Helicopter who were there searching alongside surf life saving and coastguard units," Ranger said yesterday.

"When he was located the Coastguard's jet ski picked him up and brought him into the beach where St John attended to him."

Ranger said the boy was swimming on a stretch of beach which was not being patrolled by Surf Life Saving.

"[Where the boy was] is a common place for people to go swimming in, but it has risk where it is - obviously it's not a patrolled surf beach or swimming area," he said.

Water Safety NZ CEO Jonty Mills said while he had not received a full report on the incident it was an "absolute tragedy".

"It is an absolute tragedy for the family, the community, and especially where young children are involved.

"It just reflects how quickly things can happen on New Zealand's coast. Our coastline is incredibly inviting, but at the same time there are a lot of rips and currents."

Mills said their message was always for people - especially when with children - to swim between the flags.

"Our surf lifesavers and coastguard volunteers do an amazing job over summer keeping people safe, but they can't be at every beach in the country, and not 24/7.

"We want people to enjoy the water, but to come home safely to their family, at the end of the day."