Phantom rips end fun at Wenderholm beach

By PAUL YANDALL

Swimmers are being warned to be on the lookout for dangerous, "phantom" rips after seven people were rescued from the traditionally placid Wenderholm Beach - four of whom were taken to hospital.

The swimmers were caught in the rip on the outgoing tide at the beach, located at Wenderholm Regional Park, north of Orewa, about 4.30 pm on Saturday.

Coastguard, police, the WestpacTrust Rescue Helicopter, and surf lifesaving services were called to help in the rescue attempt.

One man was airlifted to Auckland Hospital in a critical condition, and three others were taken to North Shore Hospital with serious to moderate injuries.

Wenderholm Regional Park ranger Ross Gaastra said he was at the beach when two swimmers, there as part of a Samoan Assembly of God church group, were caught by the rip.

Other swimmers had to be rescued after they tried to rescue the pair. Seven swimmers were eventually rescued by other members of the public.

"It's a pretty safe beach but there are always dangers involved," said Mr Gaastra.

Rips could appear without warning and he urged bathers to swim between the flags.

Tony Cosgrove, of Surf Life-Saving New Zealand, said "phantom" rips could appear at traditionally safe beaches, catching swimmers offguard.

The Orewa surf lifesaving club captain, Mark Fergus, said Wenderholm was a good beach for families and large groups because of its mild surf.

He said there were always rescues there, particularly as the neighbouring Puhoi River could drain quickly, catching unwary swimmers. But it was considered a safe beach.

Lifeguards in the region said they were preparing for a busy summer. Conditions to date at most beaches have been reasonably mild, although there has already been a steady stream of rescues at most of the main swimming spots.

Piha Beach patrol captain Riley Massey said lifeguards had made only a couple of rescues over the weekend, thanks to mild conditions.

He said that a hole about one-third up the beach had increased this year and was creating a rip to be wary of.

Muriwai Beach patrol captain William Flapper said a couple of rips had kept lifeguards busy, but there had not been a serious incident yet.

The beach had attracted up to 1000 bathers a day this weekend, he said, but it could pull 14,000 swimmers in the height of summer.

Herald Online Marine