West coast fishermen not getting message

Surf lifesavers are frustrated the message is not getting through to fishermen on the Auckland west coast after the third drowning in just over a month.

An elderly Asian man was swept off Keyhole Rock by a 1.5m wave at Anawhata beach on Saturday.

The man, aged between 60 and 70, was fishing with friends when he was dragged into the sea at 1.30pm.

His body has not been found.

Emma Roberts, the northern region's director of lifesaving, said the number of drownings on west coast beaches within two months was "staggering".

Fisherman Wen Hai Wu was swept from Flat Rock at Muriwai on October 16 and his body later recovered. A fisherman wearing waders was washed off Ninepin Rock at Whatipu on November 5. His body has yet to be found.

The volunteer lifesaving organisation said 36 fishermen had drowned on west coast beaches in the past 20 years.

Ms Roberts said the deaths took a toll on lifeguards who recover the bodies, which had sometimes been in the water for days. "We are trying to raise awareness about general safety while at the beach, swimming or fishing, but our attempts do not seem to be getting across to the general public," she said.

Lifeguard Brendan Evans said the recovery of a body from the water could be gruesome and traumatic.

Lifesaving development officer Dean Storey said people fishing at the beaches should swap heavy clothing and gumboots for reef boots, wetsuits and inflatable jackets or lifejackets.