Water emergency at Piha Beach, West Auckland - two dead

Two people have died after getting into trouble in the water at Piha Beach in West Auckland.

Emergency services were called to the beach just after 6pm. The two people were unresponsive when brought to shore by lifeguards.

Surf lifesavers at United North Piha Lifeguard Service were told two people were in distress in the water at 6pm, after patrols had ended for the day, Surf Life Saving NZ national duty officer Faron Turner said.

The first person was found unconscious in the water and taken back to shore, where CPR was begun.

Emergency services on the scene at Piha Beach. Photo / Hayden Woodward

A surf lifesaving IRB and jetski were used to locate the second person, who was also pulled from the water unconscious, Turner said.

“They were taken to shore.”

Police said medical assistance was immediately provided but tragically the two people were unable to be revived.

The deaths will be referred to the Coroner.

Police remained at the North Piha Lifesaving Club after 8pm tonight.

A witness said police were taking statements from visibly upset people at the scene. The Surf Lifesaving Piha crew were also debriefing in a nearby park around 8pm.

Surf lifesavers are also now helping other emergency responders at the beach, one of Auckland’s most popular.

Police - including the Eagle helicopter - Hato St John Ambulance and an Auckland Westpac Rescue Helicopter chopper are also at the scene, Turner said.

A statemet from Auckland Westpac Rescue Helicopter said a crew were tasked to North Piha to assist two persons in the water at 6.02 tonight.

“One was missing and one was in the surf. When crew arrived, the two were on the beach and crew helped attend to both,” the statement said.

“Ambulance, surf lifesaving, police and fenz were also on scene. Unfortunately, both patients died and crew returned to base.”

Turner reminded anyone needing help for someone in the water to always first call 111 and ask for police.

This evening’s incident comes amid a horror nine days in the water around the country.

Nine people have died in water-related incidents over that period, with the latest death confirmed this afternoon when a body was found in water near Opoutere Beach in Coromandel Peninsula.

A person also died in a water incident at a Takapuna address this morning, the third person to die in a water-related incident in Auckland’s northern suburbs in less than 24 hours, after two swimmers died at Big Manly and Narrow Neck beaches last night.

Opoutere Beach near Whangamatā was the scene of tragedy on Wednesday, after a large family group got into trouble in the water. Photo / Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust

Police said the body found at Opoutere was believed to be that of a person missing since being part of a family group who got into trouble while swimming on Wednesday.

Another member of the group has already been confirmed dead while a third is in hospital.