Man swept from rocks off Raglan beach

Monday, 25 September 2017

A Hamilton man is missing after being washed off rocks while fishing near Raglan.

The alarm was raised by other people fishing  at Papanui Point at 11.15am on Monday morning.

The man's wife confirmed that he had left home early on Monday morning to go fishing, Senior sergeant Ray Malcolmson said.

Police have located what is believed to be the man's bag, fishing rods and car.

Raglan-based Gallagher Coast Guard along with two jet skis and a plane are currently searching for the man.

The Auckland Westpac Rescue Helicopter were also assisting with the search but they were stood down early Monday afternoon.

Search and Rescue are scheduled to arrive this afternoon to help with the search.

Papanui Point is located 40 minutes south of Raglan on the rugged west coast. 

Winds are currently gusting to 30 knots from the northwest, increasing to 40 knots on Monday afternoon, according to MetService.

The sea could become rough for a time, the weather forecaster states, with up to four metre swells expected. 

A group of eight fisherman who arrived about 10 minutes after the incident said it was an area people had to be careful in.

Janaka Ellepola has been fishing at Papanui point for the past 10 years.

'You don't muck around especially on the point where he was,' Ellepola, said

None of the fisherman were wearing life jackets.

Back in 2004, a 60-year-old Hamilton man drowned at Papanui Pt while out fishing. 

He and a friend were fishing when a wave washed up over the pair and swept the man off the rocks.

He was last seen floating face down about 500 metres offshore.