New Zealand / Regional

Young man drowns at Piha beach

16:55 pm on 4 April 2009

A young man has drowned while swimming in an unpatrolled area at Auckland's Piha beach.

A member of the public noticed the 25-year-old in difficulty at about 12.45 on Saturday afternoon.

Although lifeguards responded immediately, the man was unresponsive and could not be revived.

It's the fifth drowning on Auckland's West Coast beaches this summer.