The couple were swept away from Napier's Marine Parade beach. Photo: Tom Kitchin
Police and the Coastguard rescued a couple who were swept out to sea in Napier Wednesday afternoon.
Police said they were called about 2.20pm after reports of two people in danger out at sea off Marine Parade.
The man and the woman were swept out to sea from an outlet pipe they had been standing on and were struggling in the sea in large swells and cold water, police said.
The Coastguard and a helicopter were called to assist.
The man made it to shore safely before police arrived, and two police officers entered the water and swam out to the stranded woman approximately 100 metres offshore.
One of the officers was a qualified lifesaver who had a wetsuit handy.
The two officers stayed with the woman in the water until the helicopter was able to rescue her, and the officers were also safely retrieved.
"These people were very lucky," Area Commander Lincoln Sycamore said in a statement.
"We are thankful to the help of Surf Life Saving, the Coastguard and the helicopter who were able to assist our police officers with this rescue."