A man has died while competing in the Tauranga Half in the Bay of Plenty this morning.
Police said it was called to Pilot Bay Beach in Mount Maunganui around 8.20am, where a man was pulled from the water unconscious.
"Sadly, the man was pronounced deceased at the scene," a police spokesperson said.
Event organiser SMC Events' Craig Seuseu confirmed to 1News the man was a competing in the swim portion of the event during the Mount Maunganui Festival of Multisport.
The event involved a 2km swim, 90km bike ride and 21km run.
The man was spotted and pulled to shore by surf lifesavers, where he was treated immediately by medical staff but could not be saved.
A Surf Life Saving NZ spokesperson confirmed this evening surf lifeguards were involved in the emergency response.
"A person understood to be competing in the event signalled to the surf lifeguards that they needed assistance. Surf lifeguards responded via inflatable rescue boat (IRB), picking up the patient and returning them to shore," the spokesperson said.
The lifeguards began CPR in the boat before the man was handed over to event medical providers.
"SLSNZ understands that resuscitation attempts were unsuccessful and offers its sincere condolences to the friends, family and whānau of the person."
The death would be referred to the coroner.
SHARE ME