Written by NZ Herald

A man has drowned after getting into trouble during a late night swim on Auckland's North Shore.

The victim was with a friend at Lake Pupuke - just behind North Shore Hospital - last night when the incident happened.

"Around 9.15pm yesterday...two men were swimming at Lake Pupuke when one of them got into difficulty," a police spokeswoman said.

"Despite efforts from his friend, the man disappeared into the water."

Emergency services including police, fire crews and St John staff were called to the scene and a search was quickly carried out.

However, they were unable to find him.

A witness at the lake last night told the Herald the Police Maritime unit was also out on the water in an inflatable rescue boat.