Surf daredevils spur phone call

A concerned member of the public called police on Saturday after seeing three surfers head out past Cape Kidnappers in stormy swells.

Police, who were also dealing with a rescue in the Kaweka Range, called the manager of Clifton Motorcamp Bob Pollock to check whether or not the group had safely returned.

He said yesterday the three surfers had returned in their boat before dark, about 6pm.

"They do take a hell of a risk though."

Mr Pollock, who has lived at Clifton for about 27 years, said he had witnessed the same group going out eight or nine times over the years to surf big swells out past the cape.

He said the weather over the weekend had been "disgusting" and dangerous for surfers, as well as any potential rescue party.

"There's nothing we can do to stop them though, it's up to them."

Senior Constable Alan Daly, who received the initial call, said people needed to check the sea conditions before venturing out: "People could end up risking not only their own lives but the lives of others who have to rescue them."