The Police Eagle helicopter also attended the incident.
“One of the men was returned to shore safely by lifeguards with Eagle locating the second man in the water,” Pirret said.
“Sadly, the man was unable to be revived and died.
“Our thoughts are with the man’s friends and families for their loss, as well as those responders who did their utmost to bring about a good outcome last night.”
An Auckland Rescue Helicopter spokesperson said a crew was sent to Karioitahi Beach at 7.25pm yesterday in relation to the two people in the water.
Surf Life Saving New Zealand said two swimmers were caught in a rip near the Kariaotahi Surf Lifesaving Club at 7.16pm.
Police will refer the 26-year-old man’s death to the coroner.
Today, a rāhui has been put in place at Karioitahi by local iwi.
Multiple incidents in one evening
Lifeguards and SAR teams responded to water incidents across multiple Auckland beaches within the space of less than two hours yesterday.
Crews at Bethells Beach Surf Lifesaving Club were called to nearby Lake Wainamu at 6.10pm after police were notified that a swimmer had submerged and did not resurface.
Lifeguards and SAR responded, as did the Police Eagle and the Auckland Westpac Rescue Helicopter. Police resumed their search this morning.
In Muriwai, lifeguards pulled one person out of the water at 7.09pm.
Two lifeguards were still at the tower and saw a man in distress, one responded with a rescue tube and the other with a board and both brought him to shore.
Lifeguards performed CPR on the patient, who was not breathing before they were transported to hospital by the Auckland Westpac Rescue Helicopter.
Off-duty lifeguards at Piha rescued three people and pulled another from the water in an IRB about 7.51pm.
Surf Life Saving’s northern region operations manager James Lea said it was likely last night’s conditions created a “perfect storm” in terms of risk to swimmers.
“With such hot weather across Auckland attracting more people to beaches after lifeguard patrols had closed, combined with moderate and clean surf, plus a low tide around sunset, the risk last night was high,” he said.
“On Auckland’s west coast, rips are stronger at low tide due to the movement of the water, and the changes in the seabed increase hazards like sand bars and in-shore holes.
“We know conditions will be similar tonight, so we really want to make sure people understand these risks and make safer decisions.”
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