The search for a man who was swept off rocks while fishing at Piha beach west of Auckland has ended, with no sign of him.
Lifeguards were alerted around 5.30pm yesterday afternoon, when the 35-year-old man was swept off the rocks at Dawson’s Ledge, at the southern end of Piha Beach.
Surf lifeguards from both Piha and United North Piha patrols and a support service jet ski unit from Bethells Beach searched for the man without success.
The search also involved a Coastguard Air Patrol and the Auckland Westpac rescue helicopter.
Senior Constable Garry Larsen says at the time the man disappeared waves were hitting the rocks hard, but the sea was not overly rough.
The search resumed at seven o'clock this morning and was abandoned at 10am due to adverse weather and wave conditions.
"Due to poor visibility and 3m swells the search was called off, and we won't head back unless conditions are right and we have further information," Piha patrol captain Billy Doyle told NZPA.
He said the man was presumed to have drowned.
Mr Doyle said the man was only seen above the surface for 30 to 45 seconds before he submerged.
"That suggests he was a non-swimmer," Mr Doyle said.
"But we're sure that if he was wearing a flotation device of some sort, this tragedy would have been avoided.
"Nobody should be out on those rocks in those conditions but if you are, your survival if you get swept away could depend on your ability to swim or float."
3 News / NZPA