Surge in lifeguards helps keep Pakiri safe

Red Beach Surf Lifesaving Club members Karl Bogue (L) and Josh Davidson patrol Pakiri Beach. Photo / Steven McNicholl

Pakiri beachgoers can relax even more this summer in the knowledge they are under the watchful eye of experienced surf lifesavers.

The popular holiday spot, stretching 8km on the eastern coastline north of Auckland, now has its first surf patrol of volunteers from the Red Beach Surf Lifesaving Club.

Thanks to a surge in lifeguard membership at Red Beach, the club can provide a volunteer surf patrol at both beaches.

Club members began patrolling Pakiri on December 5 and will continue with regular weekend and public holiday patrols until February 15, from 10am to 4pm.

The lifeguards are equipped with an IRB, a quad bike, a shelter tent, first-aid equipment and have radio contact with SurfCom based in Auckland.

The move comes after the death of a 12-year-old girl who drowned while swimming with her family last summer. It was believed to be the first drowning at Pakiri in 50 years.

After that incident Red Beach lifesaving manager Chris Gurr and the club committee decided the time was right to extend their service. The Red Beach patrol are familiar with conditions at Pakiri as they hold regular training sessions there during the year. "It's a further challenge for our lifesavers. We're enjoying it - hopefully we can prevent any drownings in the future."

Each day the team finds the safest spot to place the flags and swimmers have easily adjusted.

"The public have been amazing, people are really pleased to see us."

The Christmas weekend is the busiest with up to 500 people on the beach at a time. So far they have only dealt with minor incidents including sprains, broken ankles and basic first aid.

"The surf conditions haven't been too boisterous."

Ross Malyon, executive officer for the club, said volunteer numbers had been growing for the past three years thanks in part to programmes such as Piha Rescue and junior life guards coming through the ranks.

What made Pakiri a tricky beach for swimmers was that no two days were the same, he said. "It's very placid at times, but when the surf is running you can get surf just as big as Piha."