Man dies at Kaituna River

The Kaituna River mouth. Image/Google Maps

A man has died at Kaituna River mouth this afternoon.

Emergency services were called to the incident about 600m down the beach about 1.30pm.

Police said the man was fishing at the time.

"Members of the public pulled him from the water and performed CPR."

The cause of the death is yet to be established.

Police say enquiries into the cause of death were ongoing and next of kin were being informed. "No further information is available at this time."

Maketu Fire Brigade was alerted to a possible drowning about 1.30pm today. "We were first responders to the scene," said Maketu fire chief Shane Beech.

Mr Beech said when fire crews arrived a man in a wetsuit had been brought to shore and family members were giving him CPR.

Man dies at Kaituna River Mouth, Paengaraoa - Bay of Plenty Police are responding to the death of a man at Kait... https://t.co/mQVFHa7aTs

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The man appeared to have been fishing alone, said Mr Beech.

"There was some confusion about whether he was putting down a fishing net or a crab pot."