Lifeguards appeal for sense and dollars

Lifeguards at Takapuna Beach release balloons symbolising the number of rescues they carried out last season. Picture / Kenny Rodger

The water is not quite up to summer temperatures but the lifeguards who will patrol the country's beaches got in the swim yesterday.

About 250 lifeguards tested their skills at Takapuna Beach ahead of the official start of the surf life-saving season next weekend.

Surf Life Saving Northern region chief executive Steve Johns said the day of tube rescues, swimming and CPR practice was a refresher course to make sure lifeguards were ready for anything on opening weekend.

Mr Johns said northern region lifeguards, who patrol beaches from Raglan north, saved 1086 lives last season, just over half of the national total of 2061.

"We have some of the most dangerous beaches in this area."

To illustrate the number of rescues, they released 2061 helium balloons from the beach.

Surf Life Saving New Zealand was trying to push the message of swimming between the flags, especially to males aged between 18 and 24, who accounted for most rescues.

"They might be sunbathing somewhere on the beach. They can see the flags but they get up where they are and go straight off the beach in for a swim," said Mr Johns.

The organisation's annual appeal starts today and 280,000 flyers will be distributed to push the safety message and seek donations.

"Most of the public don't realise we don't get Government funding. The annual appeal is a major part of our survival."

Lifeguard Travis Mitchell from the Mairangi Bay Surf Life Saving Club said yesterday's retesting was a good refresher.

"There's a bit of hesitation on a few faces around the place but they're getting into it.

"There's a good turnout. Most of us have done enough of it that it's second nature."

Meanwhile the police launch St John, the Westpac Rescue Helicopter and lifeguards were involved in rescuing two men who got into trouble boogie boarding near Lion Rock, Piha, yesterday.

One of the men, aged about 20, fell from his boogie board in rough surf and had to be rescued.

His friend had made it to shore by the time emergency services arrived.

Surf's up

* The season starts at Labour Weekend and runs until Easter Monday.

* 14,000 volunteer lifeguards patrol New Zealand beaches.

* Lifeguards saved 2061 lives on New Zealand beaches last summer.

* Greater Auckland had 900 lifeguards who did 60,000 hours of beach patrols last year.