At around 2pm yesterday afternoon, a man was kayaking approximately 100 metres off shore at Muriwai Beach on a sit-on-top Kayak.
The man was wearing a full length wetsuit. He did not have a life jacket on.
A female surfer was also in the water and saw a large wave knock the man off his kayak. A number of powerful waves continued to hit and the man was separated further from his kayak. When the surfer came out of the water she noticed the man¡¯s kayak had washed up on the shore, but the man could not be seen.
The woman approached a family on the beach and used their phone to dial 111.
A number of Police units, Westpac Rescue Helicopter, Coastguard and the Muriwai Surf Rescue began an immediate search for the man.
Sadly, the man¡¯s body was found and recovered by rescue boats at 3.20pm.
The victim has been named as 51 year-old Dein Mitchell, of Glenfield.
Mr Mitchell¡¯s death will be referred to the Coroner.
ENDS
Beth Bates/Waitemata Police?