Mum, children recovering after near drowning

New Brighton Beach. File photo / Christchurch Star

A mother and her two children, one a baby, are recovering in hospital after nearly drowning in strong currents at Christchurch's New Brighton beach today.

The three were walking in the shallows about 12.30pm when a rogue wave hit them and swept them into a hidden hole in the seabed, Surf Life saving programme and services manager Dougal Holmes said.

They took in a bit of water and the baby's vital signs were setting off a few alarm bells with ambulance staff so they were taken to hospital, Mr Holmes told NZPA.

The high winds, likely to continue for a few days at least, had caused a strong drift in the water and people were being swept along the beach.

Mr Holmes advised all swimmers to stay between the flags, so that they would be observed and rescued if anything went wrong.

The mother and her children were not between the flags but they were only in knee-deep water and it was just "bad luck".

- NZPA