26 Dec 2014

Man drowns at Northland beach

9:01 am on 26 December 2014

An Auckland man has drowned at a Northland beach while setting crab pots.

Whangarei police said the 25-year old, who was spending Christmas at Uretiti Beach, near Ruakaka, was with a friend when they were swept away.

The friend managed to make it to shore and raise the alarm.

The man's body was later found 400 metres down the beach.

The police said his family in China must be contacted before they could release his name.

The death was referred to the coroner.