Teen swept out to sea at Auckland beach rescued

It was a near-miss for a teenager swept out to sea at a notoriously dangerous Auckland beach last night, rescuers say.

The police Eagle helicopter and Surf Life Saving New Zealand responded to a near-drowning at Bethells Beach about 8.20pm on Friday after four teenagers got caught in a rip.

Three managed to swim to shore and call for help.

The beach was unpatrolled at the time.

Surf Life Saving club president Dan Harvey said the rescue of the 17-year-old girl was "textbook" but could easily have turned to tragedy.

He said a flotation device dropped by the helicopter was key.

She was becoming hypothermic by the time surf lifesavers reached her in a rescue boat, he said.