Diver dies after incident in calm conditions near Whangārei, Northland
Monday, 27 January 2020
A person has died following a diving incident in calm conditions in Northland.
The diver failed to surface off the coast of Taiharuru, near Whangārei Heads, about 12.25pm on Monday, police said.
They were found dead about 1.20pm.
Police said the death would be referred to the coroner.
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Conditions at Taiharuru at the time were calm and sunny, with a gentle seabreeze and about 0.5m of swell.
The incident tops off a horror long weekend for drownings, as hot temperatures and Auckland Anniversary Weekend sends people to the water.
On Saturday, a 23-year-old Christchurch man drowned after jumping into the Hokitika River gorge.
On Sunday, Otago rescuers found a body, believed to be that of Vinnie Beecroft, a 14-year-old who went missing near Second Beach, Dunedin, on Thursday.
On Monday, Whanganui rescuers found a body, believed to be a 24-year-old Israeli national who went missing in the Whanganui River on Sunday afternoon.
Other drownings this year include a man pulled from the water near Whangamatā Boat Ramp, a 40-year-old Wellington man who died saving his son who had fallen from a wharf, a Tauranga mother who got caught in a rip with her partner of 15 years in New Plymouth, and father and son Darren and Josh Southon who died on the Wairarapa coast while diving.
Two snorkellers in Northland were rescued on January 14 by 15-year-old surf life saver Jack Clarke.