Rescue at Auckland’s Muriwai Beach: Two girls plucked from rocks by volunteer lifeguards

Volunteer lifeguards at Muriwai Beach in Auckland are celebrating after saving two young girls who were stuck on a rocky outcrop as the tide rose around them.

Muriwai Volunteer Lifeguard Services search and rescue coordinator Glenn Gowthrope said there were only 45 minutes left before sundown and an hour until the powerful swell would have enveloped the rocks.

“The two girls were around the point to the south of Maori Bay, trapped on a rock by the tide ... with no means of escape,” Gowthrope said.

The Surf Life Saving volunteers decided to climb around the rocks and wade through the surf to rescue the girls instead of using a water rescue craft like a jetski.

“This proved to be a good choice as there was no way the ski would have been able to get anywhere near the two girls, and the swell was already pounding in,” Gowthorpe said.

“Action was urgent given the proximity to sunset and an incoming tide. We had three surf lifeguards in the water and moving around the rocks, with the [police] Eagle [helicopter] overhead and two surf lifeguards on comm[unications] with police.

“Our Search and Rescue squad did a fantastic job and got the job done and managed to retrieve the two girls safe and sound, just as the sun was setting.”

Fire and Emergency New Zealand (Fenz) sent three fire trucks, two support vehicles and a specialist lines rescue crew to the scene about 5.25pm.

Fenz was called to help police and Surf Life Saving. A Fenz spokesman referred all further questions to them.

A police spokeswoman confirmed Surf Life Saving had safely rescued those who were stuck on the rocks.