Fisher feared drowned

A 35-year-old fisherman is missing, presumed drowned, after being swept off the rocks at Piha yesterday afternoon.

A surfer alerted lifeguards to the emergency about 3pm after stumbling across a distressed woman sitting on the beach, Piha Surf Lifesaving president Jay Lincoln said.

The woman is believed to be the partner of the missing Asian man and to have been with him on the rocks when he fell into the water.