Woman dies while diving off Hahei coast

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A woman has been killed off the coast of Hahei following a diving incident this afternoon.

Senior Sergeant Gael Mockford of the Waikato District Command Centre said a female diver was reported missing in Feal Bay on the edge of the Marine Reserve shortly before 2pm.

"The police Eagle helicopter from Auckland, a Coastguard vessel and surf life savers were deployed to the area to try and help locate the woman. A search team was also deployed to search the shore," she said.

"When bubbles were sighted in the water near rocks a number of boaties, scuba divers and snorklers converged on the area and her body was located shortly after 3pm."

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Ms Mockford said the woman's body was recovered to shore by rescue boat a short time later however despite the best efforts of rescuers the woman was pronounced deceased by an attending doctor.

"A lot of people were involved in the initial search for the woman and her subsequent recovery and police would like to acknowledge their efforts. Work is currently underway to identify the woman and locate her family and we will not be able to release the woman's name until her family have been notified.

"Police would like to extend our sympathies to the woman's family for their loss."