Police had no doubt that two small Kaitaia boys, aged around 5 or 6, were in imminent danger of drowning when a former soldier went to their rescue on 90 Mile Beach on Sunday afternoon.
Dudley Andrews, who lives at Kauri Flat, north of Awanui, and his family drove on to the beach at Waipapakauri Ramp, intending to head south to look for tuatua, when they saw that a child had been swept out beyond the surf. A man who according to police had been keeping an eye on the boys had gone into the water but could not swim, and had himself needed rescuing.
Mr Andrews said the first youngster was 50 or 60 metres beyond the breakers when he entered the water with a bodyboard. The boy was on his back and kicking, but was going under the water.
Mr Dudley assured him, as he got close, that he was there to help him and that he would be okay, then comforted him as he paddled him back to reunite him with his family.
"Before I got back to the beach I saw people further up pointing. I thought they were warning me about a rip, but there was another boy, about 100 metres out from the surf," he said.
