Emergency services are resuming their search for a man who fell into the water while collecting shellfish at Ninepin Rock in Auckland last night.
Police said the man was collecting shellfish with another person near the entrance of Manukau Harbour in west Auckland shortly before midnight when he went into the water.
“He was not wearing a lifejacket,” a police spokesperson said.
A multi-agency search was launched, with volunteers from Coastguard Titirangi and Coastguard Papakura conducting a water search while police and Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) staff carried out a shoreline search.
The police Eagle helicopter carried out an extensive overnight search of the area, both inside and outside the bar
Search underway for man who fell into water at Auckland’s Ninepin Rock
The man was collecting shellfish with another person when he went into the water shortly before midnight Friday.
A Coastguard spokesperson said the two-hour-long search was concluded at 2am “due to rough conditions” and vessels returned to shore.
“The search has resumed today. Coastguard Auckland Air Patrol is currently in the sky searching. Coastguard Titirangi and Coastguard Papakura will join shortly,” the agency said.
Police said further information would be released when available.
Fire and Emergency NZ north shift manager Josh Pennefather said two trucks and two support vehicles attended the incident to “assist police near Ninepin Rock” and left the scene at around 2.30am Saturday.
