A Kiwi man has died after getting into difficulties in "not favourable" conditions in a Rarotonga lagoon.
In a statement, Cook Islands Police media spokesman Trevor Pitt said the 50-year-old man died on Monday (local time).
Local emergency services received a distress call at 4:05pm, reporting a person in difficulty near the Avaavaroa Passage. The passage is known for being a good spot to swim with turtles.
Pitt said the man was recovered from the water by a tour operator, who had gone out to help him.
"Unfortunately, the victim was found to be unresponsive," Pitt said.
Pitt told Newshub he believed the Kiwi was on holiday in Rarotonga and wasn't wearing a life jacket at the time.
However, it's common for people to not wear a lifejacket when out swimming or snorkeling, he added.
A spokesperson for Ocean Toa Cook Islands, which operates turtle tours in the area, said the conditions were not favourable at the time and the man shouldn't have been in the water.
"Our team were called on for help after the man was witnessed entering the water alone, ahead of his partner who was on the beach.
"The conditions were not favourable at that time and he should not have entered the water. There's a constant flow of water from the lagoon to the open ocean and it's unsafe if you're unfamiliar with it, unaccompanied or can't read the conditions.
"Unfortunately, this occurrence is a stark reminder that our waters can be deceivingly dangerous and should not be underestimated. Your individual safety should never be compromised," the spokesperson told Stuff.
Police are awaiting a medical report while investigations into the drowning are continuing.
This was the third drowning in Rarotonga this year.
