Potential police recruit shows 'great courage' saving man

Potential recruit Nick Prendergast with Constable Joshua Cadwallader. Photo / NZ Police

A potential police recruit has helped save the life of a man in distress, who was contemplating harming himself in the water off the North Shore.

Competitive swimmer Nick Prendergast was riding along in a police car to experience what being a police officer was all about on March 17.

That night police were called to the beach area between Milford and Takapuna to help a man who had swam more than 200m into the tide.

Police say they arrived within minutes but the could not spot the man from land.

Prendergast swam out to find the man and waited for Constable Joshua Cadwallader to join him before bringing the man safely ashore.

The man was taken to hospital with hypothermia.

Inspector Alisse Robertson, Acting Area Commander North Shore, said the pair did a great job.

"They displayed great courage venturing into the water in darkness to save the distressed man.

"Police wish Nick well with his continuing application and hope that one day he will be able to count this rescue as a better work story."