Teenage heroes to the rescue

Fire crews from Houhora and Kaitaia, and the Northland Electricity rescue helicopter, were dispatched to Tapotupotu on New Year's Day in response to what was reported as a drowning (Close call at Tapotupotu, Northland Age January 7), but tragedy had been averted long before they got there - thanks to two plucky teenagers.

Cheryl Lazarus said she was extremely proud of her 19-year-old daughter Tania and her 14-year-old cousin Natasha Makene, who between them managed to get the man back to the beach.

The man, who has not been contactable, told his rescuers that he had no doubt at all that without their help he would have drowned, Cheryl said.

"He was very tired, and very grateful. He told them that they had saved his life."

Tania and Natasha had been swimming with a number of others when the partner of the man, who had been snorkelling in the vicinity of a rock some distance from the beach, began calling for help. Anahera Harris heard her calls, and Tania swam out to him. By that stage he was floundering and having real difficulty keeping his head above water.

Tania wasn't able to support him, but managed to get him floating on his back while Natasha swam out with a boogie board.

Together Tania and the snorkeller used the waves to propel themselves towards the beach, but the man was too exhausted even to kick. By the time they reached the beach he was spent.

"He seemed to have swallowed a lot of water," Cheryl said, although Houhora Fire Party CFO Warren Bunn had told the Age that he was adamant that he did not have water in his lungs. He had been checked by a rescue helicopter paramedic by the time the fire crew arrived, and given that he seemed OK both returned to their bases.

Cheryl said there had been a "bit of a swell" that day, but conditions weren't bad. It wasn't clear how the man had come to find himself in difficulties.

Tania and Natasha both had family roots at Te Hapua, and were very confident in the water, she added. Tania's family lived in Kamo but Tania was attending university in Auckland, while Natasha lived in Auckland.