Mum proud of daughter who helped save victim's friend

Raphael Alualu, pictured with his sister Joanne and family, who died after diving into a swimming hole on Auckland's North Shore. Photo / Supplied

The mother of a girl who helped to rescue a friend of Raphael Alualu, who drowned after leaping into a swimming hole on Auckland's North Shore, say she is very proud of what her daughter did.

Raphael, a 16-year-old of Samoan descent, surfaced briefly before disappearing after jumping five metres off a cliff top into a quarry swimming hole next to Lake Pupuke on Tuesday.

His friend was also struggling in the water but was pulled to safety by Westlake Girls' High students Jemma Western, 16, and Tessa Pitney, 15.

One their friends, 15-year-old Eryn Crombie, injured her neck in the rescue and had to be taken to North Shore Hospital, The North Shore Times reported.

Tessa's mother Liz told NZPA she was proud of what the girls did, but did not wish to say more to the media out of respect for Raphael's family.

"I'm very proud of what the girls did - as a mother I'm incredibly proud of what she did - I think they were very helpful, but I think we need to just leave it at that because there's a grieving family out there," she said.

Raphael was part of a youth programme at the School of Business in Newmarket, Auckland, and had gone to the lake with other students and staff.

The swimming hole is next to the North Shore Squash Club and president Pat Menzies said he had warned the new Auckland council something had to be done about the dangers of youngsters leaping into the lake.

"It's been an accident waiting to happen. Everyday I go to the club, especially in summer, there are kids there.

"It is a beautiful spot down there and it attracts them. Where there is water there is going to be people and youths.

"I feel very bad. The kids were just having fun."

Mr Menzies said over the years there had been a number of deaths and injuries at the lake.

Police said they had spoken to witnesses who saw Raphael dive into the swimming hole and investigations into the circumstances surrounding his death were continuing.

- NZPA