Good swimmer no match for flash rip at Mangawhai Heads in Northland

Belynda Groot walking on the Mangawhai Heads Beach not far from were she and 11 others were rescued by lifeguards. Photo / Supplied

Belynda Groot reckons she's a good swimmer but that counted for nought when a flash rip got her into trouble.

The Auckland mother was among 12 people plucked from waters off Mangawhai Heads Beach on Saturday after the group swam outside the red flags and got into trouble in a flash rip about midday.

Had it not been for the volunteers at the Mangawhai Heads Surf Lifesaving Club, Groot said there could have been a "major tragedy" as the rip caught the group unawares.

She and her partner have a family bach in Mangawhai but she has been going to the beach for about three decades. "I had a swim and decided to go back into the water. I was about to head back to the beach when I realised we'd been pulled out. I saw someone's hands go up.

"I am a reasonably good swimmer and swam as fast as I could but my whole body was being pulled out. I felt I was staying in the same spot despite swimming as hard as I could," she said.

Some of the lifeguards at Mangawhai Heads Surf Lifesaving Club who rescued 12 swimmers after they were caught in a rip. Photo / Supplied

Groot said she was aware of rips but did not know "flash rips" even existed. She said one lifeguard alerted others and they quickly got into the water with an inflatable boat and headed to the swimmers in trouble.

"A lifeguard swam up to me and gave me his float and we then swam and picked up another woman. I saw my partner and son standing on the shore when I got back on the beach."

She saw a man and his pre-teen daughter among the group who were also rescued.

Monday was the last day of patrols by lifeguards in Northland.

Groot's advice to people is to make sure they stay within their depths in the water and to swim with someone. She couldn't thank the lifeguards enough.

"They do an amazing job without any government funding and I think people should donate generously towards the work they are doing," she said.

Groot was back in the water on Sunday but she made sure she swam between the flags.

Club president Jon Drucker said the lifeguards guards responded quickly and effectively, and no one was harmed.