Police have named the fisherman who died after being washed off the rocks at notorious spot The Gap, at Taiharuru, yesterday after going fishing with his brother and another man.
He was Mario Openshaw, aged 29 years, of Whangarei.
Whangarei police Sergeant Stephanie Hudson said three men went fishing at The Gap, near Taiharuru, 32km north-east of Whangarei, in "rough conditions." One of the men was swept off the rocks by a wave about 1pm, Ms Hudson said, while his brother then jumped into the raging water to try to rescue him.
She said the Northland Electricity rescue helicopter arrived at the scene within minutes and located the two men in the water.
One of the men was pulled out alive and received medical treatment at the scene, but the first man who was washed off the rocks could not be revived and was declared dead at the scene.
