A mystery man on a kayak has rescued two brothers who almost drowned when they were dragged out to sea in a rip off a beach north of Napier this afternoon.
The teenagers were swimming with friends at Waipatiki Beach when they became caught in a rip about 2pm.
The brothers, aged 15 and 16, spent about 15 minutes trying to swim back to shore.
A man on the beach noticed them struggling and paddled his kayak out to rescue them.
The brothers were airlifted by the Lowe Corporation Rescue Helicopter to Hawkes Bay Hospital.
