Diver killed near Northland

Photo / File

A diver was killed when he was hit in the face by a boat's propeller near the Poor Knights Islands off the Northland coast this evening.

Emergency services were told about 7pm that the diver had been struck by the propeller of a commercial dive boat.

He suffered serious facial injuries and died before assistance arrived, police said.

The boat was returning to Tutakaka and would be met by police who would conduct an investigation on behalf of the coroner.