Man dies in rough' Lake Taupo swim

A 54-year-old man died while taking part in the State Epic Swim in conditions other swimmers described as extremely rough.

The Palmerston North man was pulled from Lake Taupo by the event safety team after they noticed him face down in the water during the 2.5km event.

It's believed he suffered a cardiac arrest and could not be resuscitated by the safety crew or paramedics who arrived within minutes of him being pulled out.

Some swimmers said the conditions were too rough for them to continue on Saturday. Sunday's races went ahead as scheduled and event organisers said no more withdrew than in previous events. They said the conditions were not that bad.

Rotorua's Pam Dickson, who was in the 10km event, pulled out about halfway because of a neck problem but said it was also "too choppy" for her liking.

Another Rotorua swimmer Cati Pearson, 21, winner of the open women's Epic 2.5km, said the water was rough.

"I've swum in worse but it wasn't nice for a lake swim. They didn't seem to have many lifeguards out there whereas normally there would be lots of kayaks."

Swim New Zealand chief executive Mike Byrne said conditions were moderate.

"It wasn't rough, it was challenging - a harder day than if it had been dead calm."

He said there was a full safety crew out on the water.

"We had a significant team of trained personnel ... they responded well. We had no more people than normal pull out ... People just put their hand up and they were helped out of the water."

Event organisers were saddened by the death, he said. "It's very sad, especially for the family and staff,"

Water Safety New Zealand chief executive Matt Claridge said it was not an isolated case with five drownings or fatalities during swimming events in the past four years.

"I believe water safety New Zealand should be reviewing this incident and providing a report for the coroner," he said.

Police have yet to release the name of the man who died and have referred the case to the coroner.