The man who drowned at a Hawke's Bay beach at the weekend was Hemin Vinubhai Limbachiya from Napier.
Waimarama Beach Photo: 123RF
He was 26.
Police said the death was referred to the coroner.
On Sunday, a group swimming in chest-deep water at Waimarama Beach in front of the surf club got into trouble, when a man and woman started to be swept out to sea.
A third person also got into difficulty while trying to help the pair.
Locals alerted rescuers after noticing the trio being pulled out by the tide. Two survived the swim but Mr Limbachiya was not breathing when he was brought to shore, and surf lifesavers gave him CPR, and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
At the time, police said local residents raised the alarm and entered the water to help, using a surfboard from the nearby surf club.
Several Waimarama Surf Club volunteers also helped.
