Am man aiming to become a police officer has helped save the life of a man who was contemplating harming himself in the water at an Auckland beach.
Police were called to the scene after midnight on Saturday where a man had swam more than 200 meters into the tide between Milford and Takapuna.
Police say they couldn't spot the man from land.
Nick Pendergast, who was experiencing being an officer first-hand as part of his application to join the police is a competitive swimmer - a skill set needed that night.
He swam out, found the man and waited for help to bring the man safely ashore.
The man was taken to hospital with hypothermia.
Police say they hope that one day Mr Pendergast will be able to count this rescue as a better work story.
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