Crabber presumed dead after boat tips

Uretiti Beach. Photo / Michael Cunningham

A Chinese man from Auckland is presumed drowned after being swept from an inflatable boat while searching for crabs at Uretiti - the third such death there in less than four years.

A large-scale search started after the 35-year-old disappeared while setting crab pots at Uretiti Beach about 12.30pm on Sunday. The search recommenced at 8am yesterday but air patrols and sweeps along the shoreline failed to find the man.

The tragedy comes two weeks after police revealed a campaign to try to reduce the number of drownings on the popular beach and, in particular, to educate an increasing number of Asians visiting the area to catch paddle crabs. This is the third tragedy on the beach involving a crabber of Asian ethnicity since Christmas Day 2011, and the 11th drowning in Northland this year.

The man's family, including his two young daughters, were on the beach when he was blown offshore in strong winds. Police believe the inflatable boat he was in tipped. The man, who was wearing a wetsuit, fell in the water about 400m from shore.

A cousin said family and friends on the beach saw him fighting the waves and trying to swim back.

A neighbour who had lived next to the missing man for seven years was among a team of people who arrived from Auckland yesterday to help search.

"He had a big heart and was a good guy. We've come up here to support his wife and children," the man said.

Police search co-ordinator Sergeant Neil Pennington said Ruakaka Surf Lifesaving Club members used a jetski to quickly get to the spot where the man was last seen and started searching.

Two fixed-wing aircraft, the Northland Rescue Electricity Helicopter, Whangarei Coastguard, Ruakaka and Waipu Surf Lifesaving clubs also helped with Sunday's search.