Near-drowning before dawn on popular Auckland beach

What is drowning and what can we do to avoid it?

A young man is in a serious condition after being pulled from the water at an East Coast Bays beach in Auckland this morning.

St John Ambulance says the victim was taken to North Shore Hospital after nearly drowning at Castor Bay just before 5am.

Police said the 21-year-old was swimming with a group at the bay when he got into difficulty.

A person has been pulled from the water at an East Coast Bays beach on Auckland's North Shore. Image / Google Maps