Police responding to a report of an alleged burglary at a Monohomes building site in Surf Rd, Mount Maunganui. Photo / Matthew Semple
A man who died after running into the sea at Mount Maunganui on Monday morning was John Rawiri Piripi Pitihira, police say.
A statement said the 37-year-old Mount Maunganui man’s death has been referred to the coroner after a post-mortem.
Police said the Independent Police Conduct Authority had been notified about the incident, and police were supporting Pitihira’s family.
In prior statements, police said the man died after running “into the sea in an effort to avoid arrest”.
Police said he ran from officers investigating a report of a burglary at a Surf Rd building site in Ōmanu about 3.40am.
A police officer chasing him did not follow him into the water for safety reasons, and police lost sight of him.
Police searched the shoreline and a body was found a short distance up Ōmanu Beach about 5am.
A Surf Rd resident who swam in the area later that morning told the Bay of Plenty Times there was a “very strong” rip.
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