Woman dies boogie boarding at Northland beach

The Northland Emergency Services Trust (NEST) helicopter arrives at Takou Beach where a woman drowned after getting into difficulty in the water while boogie boarding. Photo / Supplied

A 54-year-old woman has drowned at a Northland beach after being caught in a rip while boogie boarding.

Sergeant Ross Laurie, of Kerikeri police, said emergency services were called to Takou Bay, between the Bay of Islands and Whangaroa Harbour, about 12.15pm yesterday.

The woman and her partner, a 64-year-old man, both from Nelson, had entered the water with a boogie board but became caught in a strong current or rip, Mr Laurie said.

"The board basically got washed away from them," he said.

He said that the man had become "thoroughly exhausted" but he managed to pull himself from the water.

Two teenagers who attempted to rescue the couple managed to retrieve the woman, though she was unresponsive.

A number of people, who had watched the tragedy unfold from the shore, performed CPR on her. However, she was pronounced dead by a St John Ambulance crew on arrival, Mr Laurie said.