UPDATED 8.53PM A 69-year-old man has drowned at Karekare Beach​ in West Auckland this afternoon.

Police tonight said it appeared the man had got into difficulty while making his way to a fishing spot on an island at the south end of the beach.

He was taken from the water by a surfer and then transported to the beach by a surf livesaving patrol.

CPR was attempted but unfortunately was not successful.

Northern fire communication shift manager Jaron Phillips said the fire service had responded to support ambulance staff after the call came in about 2pm.