SUP paddlers caught in strong wind helped back to beach

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

Surf lifeguards from Midway Surf Life Saving Club leapt into action on Monday afternoon when a group of young adult students on stand-up paddleboards were seen struggling against a strong offshore wind.

It happened at around 1pm.

The group of five paddlers — four females and a male — were seen out near the harbour navigation channel.

Dawson Building Midway SLSC head coach Jack Gavin and former club member Sam Butler were having a catch-up at the club when they saw what was happening.

“We launched one of the club’s IRBs and went out to them,” Jack said.

“The strong north-westerly wind was making it hard for them to get back to shore.

“They weren’t making much progress coming back into the wind and were pretty close to the shipping lane,” he said.

The lifeguards picked up four of them and their boards and returned them safely to shore.

A fifth paddler, one of the females, was able to make her own way back to the beach.

“They were all tired but otherwise OK, and they did well to stay calm,” Jack said.

“The episode is a reminder to everyone to be careful when they’re out on the water on inflatable craft, like these SUPs were, in a strong offshore wind.”