A diver who got into trouble while spear-fishing in Port Waikato has been airlifted to hospital in a serious condition. 

A spokesperson for Auckland Westpac Rescue Helicopter told the Herald the man, in his 30s, was out fishing when he got “pummelled by waves” and dragged underwater by his catchbag. 

A passing boat picked him up and took him to shore where he was met by paramedics before he was airlifted to the hospital. 

A St John spokesperson told the Herald they sent an ambulance and a helicopter to the scene where the person was in serious condition. 

“We assessed and treated one patient who was airlifted to Middlemore Hospital in a serious condition.” 

Last year, St John responded to 434 water incidents across New Zealand – a 14 per cent increase on the previous year. Between December 2022 and January 2023, they attended almost 200 water incidents, several of which were fatal.