Woman dies on Northland beach while trying to save her child

A woman has died at Baylys Beach after trying to save her child.

A woman has drowned on a notoriously dangerous Northland beach after going in to the water to save her child, who had got into difficulty in the water.

Police said the woman got into trouble on Baylys Beach, on the west coast near Dargaville, at around 5.45pm yesterday.

Police said the woman went to the aid of her child who was struggling in the water.Her child received minor injuries.

In a statement police said: ''This is an absolute tragedy and Police's deepest sympathies are with the woman's family.''

The matter will be referred to the Coroner.

The Tasman Sea batters Baylys Beach and the surf is notoriously dangerous with a number of people dying on the beach over the years.

Dylan Robinson, 13, of Henderson, West Auckland, drowned in August 2012, on the beach and two people drowned there in one week in January and February 2006 - 46-year-old Alexander Stewart and Kevan Moore.

The beach is patrolled over parts of the summer by lifeguards and lifeguards there are waiting for new facilities to be built.