At around 2pm yesterday afternoon, a man was kayaking approximately 100 metres off shore at Muriwai Beach on a sit-on-top Kayak.
The man was wearing a full length wetsuit. He did not have a life jacket on.
A female surfer was also in the water and saw a large wave knock the man off his kayak. A number of powerful waves continued to hit and the man was separated further from his kayak. When the surfer came out of the water she noticed the man’s kayak had washed up on the shore, but the man could not be seen.
The woman approached a family on the beach and used their phone to dial 111.
A number of Police units, Westpac Rescue Helicopter, Coastguard and the Muriwai Surf Rescue began an immediate search for the man.
Sadly, the man’s body was found and recovered by rescue boats at 3.20pm.
The victim has been named as 51 year-old Dein Mitchell, of Glenfield.
Mr Mitchell’s death will be referred to the Coroner.
ENDS
Beth Bates/Waitemata Police