Mount lifeguards win lifesaving award

Mount Maunganui Main Beach. Photo/file

Saving two young men from a rip at Main Beach Mount Maunganui on March 7 has won lifeguards a regional surf lifesaving award.

Each month, Surf Life Saving New Zealand selects a winning rescue from each region as well as an overall national winner for the title of BP Rescue of the Month.Mount Maunganui Lifeguard Service has won the Eastern RegionBP Rescue of the Month award for March.

Volunteer lifeguards were on patrol at Main Beach Mount Maunganui when two male swimmers got themselves into danger. They both became caught in a hole at the head of a rip where there was a strong current limiting the swimmers' ability to stand up or swim in.

Lifeguards Garry King and Jacques Glover went to assist the swimmers. Once back on shore, Mr King and Mr Glover performed a patient assessment and both swimmers were luckily unharmed. They were advised to swim between the flags in future and to take note of rip danger signs that are commonly in place.

The club receives a $100 fuel voucher from BP to help with the financial costs of keeping communities safe in the water.

Surf Life Saving New Zealand chairman Geoff Hamilton said the efforts shown by the lifeguards was admirable.

"The skill and professionalism shown by those involved in the incident is testament to qualities valued by Surf Life Saving New Zealand and BP."