A fisherman has been saved from rocks near Muriwai Beach, after getting caught out by an incoming tide early this morning.
Police received a report of a person stuck on rocks near Tangihau Point just before 2am.
The Police Eagle Helicopter was deployed and observed the fisherman, who was unable to get back to safety due to the changing tide.
The Westpac Rescue Helicopter was contacted, along with Police Search and Rescue teams, and the man was picked up "safe and well".The rescue is the latest in a string of incidents on west coast beaches.
Last month, the Westpac Rescue Helicopter executed a dramatic rescue mission plucking two fishermen off a rock near Sunset Beach in Port Waikato.
While further south, a large-scale search operation was launched after a fisherman was washed off rocks at Papanui Point near Raglan.
The rescue at Papanui Point came after a joint warning was issued by the Department of Conservation, Waikato District Council and Water Safety New Zealand last year, describing it as "a location known to claim lives".
Water Safety New Zealand's CEO Daniel Gerrard reinforced that message last month."
The combination of its remote location, slippery rocks, and unpredictable sea conditions creates a perilous environment even for the most experienced fishers. We have seen too many tragedies unfold in such high-risk areas."
