Summer swimmers are urged to brush up on water safety, as the holiday drowning toll hits five

Police say they were called to Northland's Ripiro Beach, just before 7pm yesterday, after two men were caught in a rip.

Both were pulled from the water, and died at the scene.

Water Safety Chief Executive Glen Scanlon, says anyone caught in a rip should stay calm.

He says the best thing to do is float with it, and let it take you out.

He says this gives you the opportunity to raise the alarm, and the rip might even return you to shore.