Whitebaiter dies at Lake Ferry

TRAGEDY: A whitebaiter has died at Lake Ferry after being swept into the water at the mouth of Lake Onoke. PHOTO/FILE

A whitebaiter has died after he was swept out to sea at Lake Ferry yesterday afternoon.

A staff member from Lake Ferry Hotel, who did not wish to be named, said the man was swept out sometime before 2.15pm.

"He was whitebaiting and customers from the hotel spotted him ... scoop his net into the water, and he got swept out of the lake mouth and into the sea."

The hotel worker said staff rang emergency services straight away.

Police said a member of the public jumped into the water and swam out about 500m to help the 71-year-old man, with a long line and buoyancy aid.

"He put on a life vest and swam out to the man - but by the time he got to him he was unconscious," the worker said.

Both the whitebaiter, who was wearing a life jacket, and his rescuer were then pulled in to shore.

The man may have been in the water for about half an hour before he was brought into shore, she said.

Emergency services worked to resuscitate the whitebaiter for over 40 minutes, but were unsuccessful. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The worker said those involved in the rescue attempt had been "extremely brave", as the water was "dangerous and known for drownings".

There had been one other drowning since she had been working at the hotel, she said.

"It's obviously something that is a danger, but it is not a common occurrence."

She said the man was a regular local whitebaiter who was staying at the campground.

Wairarapa police Senior Sergeant Mike Sutton said a "pretty brave effort was made by the people down there" to pull the man from the water and resuscitate him.