An Auckland man visiting family in Papamoa drowned while retrieving craypots last night.
Family members and St John ambulance paramedics tried in vain to revive the 45-year-old as he lay on the beach.
The man, of Pacific Island descent, died at the scene, about 1km south of Papamoa Beach Surf Lifesaving Club.
St John ambulance paramedics were called to the beach at 7.25pm.
Mt Maunganui St John operations team manager Gary Bishell said the man and family members had gone to retrieve some craypots from just beyond the breakers.
"He got into a difficulty with the water. Family members who were there saw him in difficulty and pulled him ashore,'' Mr Bishell said.
The family members helped paramedics with chest compressions but after 30 minutes of CPR the man was pronounced dead.
A member of Papamoa Beach Surf Lifesaving Club who lives at the beach opened the clubrooms for the family and a quadbike was used to help remove the man's body from the beach.
The sea conditions were described as "moderate'' and it is understood the man got into trouble in relatively shallow water.
Acting Senior Sergeant Nigel Ramsden said police were still investigating the circumstances but were not discounting that the man might have suffered some kind of medical condition.
A post-mortem examination, expected to be done today, will determine the cause of death.
The man's name has not been released.
The drowning came just a day after two German tourists were saved from a rip at Papamoa Beach. The men were the first swimmers to be rescued at Papamoa since the regional paid lifeguards started patrolling a week before Christmas.
- Kiri Gillespie and Sandra Conchie of the Bay of Plenty Times
