It's looking like a busy season already for Surf Life savers, with lifeguards urging visitors to Auckland's west coast beaches to take care

The Bethells Emergency Callout Squad was today alerted to three people being swept out to sea at O'Neill's Beach just north of Bethells,

The three got back to shore by themselves but still had to be assisted by lifeguards.

Its's the sixth major incident in six days for west coast lifeguards

One person has drowned and another is missing presumed drowned