Man drowns at beach near Whangamata

6:16 PM Monday Dec 24, 2012

A man has drowned at a beach south of Whangamata.

The 43-year-old was swimming about 600 metres outside the flagged, patrolled area at Whiritoa Beach, Radio New Zealand reported.

Surf lifeguards pulled the unconscious man out of the water about midday but he could not be revived.

- APNZ