A 45-year-old man has drowned at a New Plymouth beach while he was swimming with his son.
Police say the Waitara man was swimming with his 10-year-old son at Fitzroy Beach just after 7pm on Wednesday when he was caught in a rip and taken about 100 metres offshore.
Two surfers reached the man quickly and supported him on their surfboards.
He was brought back to the shore by members of the surf lifesaving club, but emergency staff were unable to revive him.
The boy was taken to Taranaki Base Hospital for a check-up as he had swallowed water.
