Three fully-clothed children were rescued from a rip at Ohope Beach yesterday.
Whakatane Surf Life Saving Club vice-president Malcolm Rowson said today the three children, of unknown ages, were part of a large group of families who were visiting the beach.
Mr Rowson, who is also a member of the Whakatane Fire Service, said distraught family members called emergency services after realising the children were in distress.
"[The children] had full clothing on, which is never a good idea when swimming, and were caught in a rip or the tide."
He said, to his knowledge, the children were rescued by the family members before emergency services arrived.
