Man dies on beachside Te Henga Walkway in Auckland

A man in his 40s died on a walking track in Auckland at the weekend as a passing group of runners tried to save his life.

The man lay unnoticed in a slight ditch off the Te Henga Walkway near Muriwai Beach as a group of runners passed on Saturday afternoon, but a second group of runners spotted him and called 111 for help.

Auckland Westpac Rescue Helicopter spokesman Lincoln Davies said the runners found the man, in his 40s, unresponsive and without a pulse about 1.46pm.

"He was wearing running gear, it was assumed the patient had been running," Davies said.

The runners called 111 and performed CPR until a doctor and an intensive care paramedic were hover-loaded to the area by helicopter.

They confirmed the man was dead.

His body was winched to police waiting at Bethells Beach, then the helicopter was sent back to retrieve the doctor and medic.

Davies could not say how the man died. He said there was no information available on whether the man had suffered a medical event or an injury.