KEY POINTS:
The family of a Whangarei Heads surf lifesaver whose neck was broken in a bashing have been overwhelmed with the support since Sunday's attack.
Father-of-four Jim Bidois was patrolling Ocean Beach that afternoon when four men attacked him.
Now in hospital with concussion, bruises and a broken neck, he faces months of rehabilitation.
While Mr Bidois' wife, Sue, focuses on his recovery, Whangarei Heads Surf Lifesaving Club president Rod Boswell is co-ordinating help and planning a club debrief.
"For Sue, it's pretty overwhelming, the fact her husband is so seriously injured," said Mr Boswell.
"To leave him at the beach in the morning and he ends up in hospital with a neck fracture - it takes a bit to get your head around."
With a wire cage supporting his broken neck, the 48-year-old builder may not be able to move his head but has not lost his sense of humour, saying he would make a great Dr Who Dalek.
"He's pretty chipper," said Mr Boswell. "He's in good spirits but gets tired easily."
This weekend, the club will hold a debrief to run through the incident as well as review safety processes.
It has about 40 qualified guards and an active 60-strong "junior surf" crew. Members start patrolling at 14.
"We've got to try and find out what happened and set up protocols to try and stop it happening again," Mr Boswell said.
The beating has shocked senior lifeguard officials, who say it is the first attack on a lifeguard they know of in New Zealand.
Surf Lifesaving Northern Region membership development officer Johnny Clough said the organisation was taking its lead from the family about what help Mr Bidois might need once home.
The regional body will be involved in the club's debrief. "That's standard with any incident our lifeguards are involved in," Mr Clough said.
"We're not changing any training protocols. It's been an unfortunate and isolated incident."
Mr Clough said lifeguards were not beach police. "We're there to patrol the beach, but from a water safety point of view. Any unruliness is referred to the police as soon as possible."
Mr Bidois may be out of hospital at the end of the week and the offers of help have been rolling in.
The club is putting together a food parcel and the Mt Manaia Club is funding a reclining chair as Mr Bidois may not be able to sleep lying down.
The lifesaving fraternity and Mr Bidois' family have been overwhelmed by the response from the community. "It's awesome," said Mr Clough.
Mr Boswell believes Mr Bidois will be back on the beach as soon as he can.
"Jim is a very determined man and is very passionate about the surf lifesaving movement."
* Offers of help can be directed via the Northern Advocate on (09) 470-2875 or Mr Boswell on (09) 436-5572 or (021) 795-185.
- NORTHERN ADVOCATE
