KEY POINTS:
A middle-ages swimmer spent five days in a critical condition after being pulled unconscious from the water near Tamaki Yacht Club during a race.
The man had no pulse and wasn't breathing when he was hauled into a rescue boat just short of the finish line in the 3.5km event last Sunday.
He was spotted by the crew of a Coastguard patrol boat as they returned from taking another distressed swimmer to shore during the Eagle Technology Bays swim.
"He was taken from the water unconscious, not responding, with no pulse," said Coastguard northern region duty officer Mark Leevers. "He was right beside the marker to turn into the beach, so he was fairly close to the finish." Crew members, including a trained nurse, began CPR and brought the man to shore near the finish line.
Two doctors took over efforts to save him and a pulse had been detected by the time the man, thought to be in his 50s, was taken to Auckland Hospital by ambulance.
A hospital spokeswoman said yesterday he was no longer critical and was showing signs of recovery.
The man was among more than 300 swimmers competing in the swim from St Heliers to the Tamaki Yacht Club.
The near-drowning is the first serious incident during a club-run event near the Waitemata Harbour, but the second during an organised swim.
Fraser Moors died in November 2005 after being pulled from the water during the 2.8km harbour crossing swim, organised by Quantum Events.
Moors, 36, was fit and healthy and had trained for several months for the event.
He too was within sight of the finish when he was spotted struggling by a lifeguard on a paddle board.
Water Safety New Zealand general manager Matt Claridge said Moors' death prompted new safety guidelines to be drawn up for open water swimming, a sport growing in popularity.
He said organisers needed to provide adequate care but competitors swam at their own risk.
Last Sunday's swim was the third in a series of four events run every year by the Auckland Central Masters Club, culminating in the 4.6km Rangitoto swim.
Entrants must have completed the previous 2.4km Chelsea swim, from Herne Bay to Northcote, or an equal distance in open water.
Race organiser Geoff Carter said he wouldn't comment while the swimmer's condition was still uncertain.
He said all the organisations involved would investigate the incident "but that never happens in a public forum". Club members were in regular contact with the man's wife.
Coastguard Northern Region chief executive Dean Lawrence said there were no other serious incidents during the club's long history of swimming events.
An approved safety plan for the swim included patrols by Coastguard boats and members of the Auckland Canoe Club.
