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Christmas saw two surf rescues in the Gisborne area and a third at the top of East Cape described as a “near drowning”, prompting a plea from lifeguards and police for people to make good decisions around water.
Off-duty surf lifeguards came to the rescue for the second time in a week on Christmas Eve and on Christmas Day.
The first incident was at around midday on Sunday when two young children got into trouble in current around rocks at the northern end of Makorori Beach.
A Dawson Building Midway lifeguard, a woman in her 20s, was going for a run on the beach when she saw the children in trouble.
“An auntie of the youngsters had gone out to help them, but could not get them back to shore,” said SLSNZ Tairāwhiti club development officer Jess Buscke.
“The children were stuck in a strong current and getting sucked under, around some rocks.
“The surf lifeguard swam out to them and towed the two youngsters back to shore, with the auntie alongside them.”
Mrs Buscke said all three were OK and did not need medical treatment.
The second incident happened at Wainui Beach on Christmas Day morning.
“A man in his early 70s was seen in difficulty with his hand up in a strong rip at the ‘Schools’ surf break, opposite Wainui Beach Primary School.
“Belinda Slement and Olivia Whitfield from Riversun Wainui SLSC raced out and when they approached him he was pretty tired,” Mrs Buscke said.
“They reassured him and towed him sideways to escape the rip.
“Another off-duty lifeguard, Hilton Slement, then arrived with some kids’ boogie boards to aid in keeping them afloat while waiting for the paid lifeguards to pick them up in the IRB, who responded promptly to the situation,” she said.
“Even though three lifeguards were in the water to assist the man in trouble, the current was so strong that they were all pretty tired once finally safe in the IRB.
“Strong currents feeding the rip made it very dangerous.”
A Wainui SLSC spokesperson said the man was “extremely lucky”.
At the time of the rescue, there were small, clean waves, light offshore winds, lots of surfers and sandbanks. It was a hot 27 degrees,
The Wainui club spokesperson said although the waves were small, there were still quite a few rips along the beach.
“Please swim where the waves are breaking. We have a few feeder currents running along the beach, which move the water along, then out through the rip.
“If you find yourself in trouble and not able to get back to shore, relax, ride the rip and raise your hand.”
■ There was a surf rescue at Hicks Bay on Christmas Day and the person rescued was flown to Gisborne Hospital by the Trust Tairāwhiti rescue helicopter.
Police were notified of a person who had attempted to rescue someone in the water and ended up needing assistance themselves.
“Fortunately, a young man on the beach was able to get to them and bring them to shore,” police said.
“One of those people was transported to hospital.”
The Trust Tairāwhiti Eastland Rescue Helicopter was dispatched to the top of the Cape at 3pm on Christmas Day.
“It was in response to what was called a near- drowning,” a chopper spokesperson said
“The patient was flown in stable condition to Gisborne Hospital.
In Tolaga Bay on Christmas Day lifeguards responded after a boat became stuck at the southern end of the river mouth.
“It had lost its motor after hitting a sandbar,” Mrs Buscke said.
“Conditions at the time were clean three-foot waves, with a slight chop, and light side shore wind.
“The local lifeguards at Tolaga Bay are urging boat users to be aware of the changes in the ocean bed and shifting channels around the river mouth.”
More information has emerged about a dramatic surf rescue at Whales at the Okitu end of Wainui Beach last Wednesday afternoon in which a teenage off-duty surf lifeguard rescued a man and a boy.
A second young boy, the man’s son, was caught up in the same drama and was rescued by other people who were at the beach.
A witness said the man, his son and a friend of his son, were swimming near the shore when they were all sucked out of their depth by a strong rip current.
Jasmine Hickling, aged 28, was on the beach reading when it unfolded.
“I heard screaming, saw what was happening, ran down to help and swam out to the father who was supporting his son.
“The other boy was further out at that stage.
“I told the father I would swim his son in and that he should go out to the other boy.”
Miss Hickling said she was towing the boy towards the beach when a male kite surfer, who had been nearby, swam over and offered to help.
“I was feeling pretty buggered so he took over and got the boy back to the beach.”
They were on the other side of the rip to the father and the other boy, who were rescued by a young lifeguard from the Dawson Building Midway Surf Life Saving Club, who had been surfing there.
“I caught up with the father and the boys before they left the beach,” she said. “I gave the dad a hug.
“It was a pretty scary experience for them.”
The teenager from Midway has been praised by Surf Life Saving NZ for his actions and that praise has been extended to all those involved in the rescue.
Mayor Rehette Stoltz is seeking another term in the upcoming election.