Rāwene teen Boysie-James Siosiua, 13, rescued from Hokianga Harbour

Boysie-James Siosiua, 13, was rescued from the Hokianga Harbour after trying to retrieve a basketball. Photo / Sean Butler, Villa Media Photography and Videography

An attempt to retrieve a wayward basketball turned into a near miss when a 13-year-old was pulled from the Hokianga Harbour in the Far North on Tuesday.

Boysie-James Siosiua was with a group of mates near the wharf in Rāwene about to go for a swim when their basketball fell into the water.

Dad Ricky Siosiua said his son was a confident swimmer so he jumped in to get it.

But it was an outgoing tide with a 25 knot wind and the strength of the water quickly became clear when he was swept past the wharf.

Boysie’s two friends saw him struggling and jumped in to help him.

On the ferry Kohu Ra Tuarua, which was crossing to Kohukohu, head skipper Alan Barratt first noticed the ball in the water – then he spotted Boysie.

“The ball was going quite fast with the wind across the water, so he couldn’t reach it,” Barratt said.

“The way he was going out, he got quite a distance away from the pontoon.”

Barratt stopped the ferry by the green channel marker and watched for a few minutes, letting his crew know to keep an eye out.

“I knew after a minute or so that when he started to try and swim back, by that stage he was worn out.

He was swimming against the tide and he was going to get in trouble quickly.”

Ricky said he happened to be watching the ferry, and thought it was odd that it had veered off course.

He didn’t know it was Boysie they were after.

Meanwhile one of Boysie’s mates was also struggling in the water – so another friend jumped in to save him.

They swam back to shore when they saw the ferry had turned for Boysie.

Boysie’s sister, who did not want to be named, was watching the ferry from the mainland with a colleague.

“We noticed the ferry had turned and went past the wharf and we were like, ‘Who the hell is driving today?’“

One of her colleagues walked closer and saw it was Boysie in the water.

Barratt moved the ferry into a position where the crew could throw a rope ladder over the side.

On board, local photographer Sean Butler realised something was up when the ferry did a random 180-degree turn.

“I had a look, saw the young guy struggling to stay above water and saw Jack Korewha [skipper] throwing the ladder over the side.”

Boysie, 13, was rescued from the Hokianga Harbour between Rāwene and Kohukohu on Tuesday afternoon. Photo / Villa Media Photography and Videography, Sean Butler

“I took the photos then I saw he still had enough strength left to climb the ladder, but there was absolutely no way he was going to make it back to the wharf as he was already sinking and barely keeping his face out of the water.

“If we had been 100m further out then it may have been a much different outcome.”

Butler said the channel was known for having a strong rip and staff did well to think so quickly.

“They did a fantastic and pro job.”

Barratt said the crew receive regular training for incidents like this.

“In the past, I’ve had eight or so rescues, and four off that wharf.

“It’s quite a dangerous place for kids.”

The ferry skipper said Boysie appeared shocked after the incident.

By the time the boat was taken back to Rawene, the teenager had been hugged by his mates and off they went.

Barratt said everyone aboard was happy to see the boy safe and well.

Ricky said the harbour was a playground for local kids and youth but the tide likely caught his son off guard.

He’d been teaching his son about the risks in the water before the rescue.

Boysie reportedly told Ricky that as soon as he jumped in, the tide pulled him away much more quickly than usual.

“[The harbour] has got a small entrance and the current has got to be quite strong,” Ricky said.

“I’ve had to rescue a few kids before.”

Sadly, the basketball could not be retrieved.

“It’s probably halfway to Te Kōpuru now,” Ricky joked.

Brodie Stone is an education and general news reporter at the Advocate. She has spent most of her life in Whangārei and is passionate about delving into issues that matter to Northlanders and beyond.