A diver is dead after suffering a heart attack at a Wairarapa beach today.

The man was pulled from the water at Riversdale Beach and given CPR by a team of about five surf lifesaving staff as they waited for the Life Flight Westpac Rescue Helicopter to arrive, but the man died on the beach before the helicopter’s arrival.

Emergency services were alerted to the incident at the northern end of the beach at about 2pm.

Police are working to identify the man, and will then notify next of kin.