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Photo: RNZ / Richard Tindiller
A child has died after being injured on Waikanae Beach in Gisborne.
Police said initial indications were that the child was injured on the beach on Wednesday evening and died shortly afterwards.
Bystanders tried to save the child, said Chaz Gibbons-Campbell, Surf Life Saving’s lifesaving manager.
“There were a few people on the beach at the time, they were able to provide assistance to the person in difficulty and an off-duty lifeguard was there… who also helped with [getting] some equipment from the club to some of the first responders.
There were no lifeguards on duty at the time because council-funded weekday patrols ended last week, and volunteers only patrol on weekends, Gibbons-Campbell said.
Police said the death would be referred to the coroner.
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