Boy, 7, dies swimming at Raglan

A 7-year-old boy who died after he was swept out to sea at Raglan yesterday was swimming at an unpatrolled section of beach.

Emergency services were first notified about the missing boy around 3.35pm, sparking a large-scale operation to find him.

The boy was located at the Raglan bar by the Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter and picked up by a jet ski.

The boy died around 5pm despite attempts by paramedics to resuscitate him on the beach, police said.

The death is the 10th fatal waterrelated incident around the country in just under three weeks.

The rescue helicopter was assisted by Auckland Coastguard’s air patrol unit, a Raglan Coastguard vessel and two Raglan Coastguard jet skis in the search.

Waikato search and rescue coordinator Sergeant Vince Ranger said the boy was seen swimming off the beach when he was swept into the bar area.

“He was located an hour later by the Westpac Helicopter who were there searching alongside surf life saving and coastguard units,” Ranger said. Ranger said the boy was swimming on a stretch of beach which was not being patrolled by Surf Life Saving.

“[Where the boy was] is a common place for people to go swimming in, but it has risk where it is — obviously it’s not a patrolled surf beach or swimming area. You’ve got some pretty strong currents which go in and out from there.”

The family of the boy were at the beach when the drama unfolded. Police said they will support the family over the coming days.

Ranger said weather conditions in Raglan were settled but there had been “a really good swell” running over the past few days. The matter has been referred to the Coroner.