Media Release
11 April 2007

Muriwai volunteer lifeguards win “Real Groovy Rescue of the Month” for second time in a row

Muriwai volunteer lifeguards have won the March 2007 Surf Life Saving Northern Region “Real Groovy Rescue of the Month” for the second time this season.

The patrol was awarded Rescue of Month for the outstanding first aid skills demonstrated on Sunday 11 March 2007 when a male swimmer lost consciousness after being hit on the head twice (once by a surfboard and then a second time while diving in the surf).

Surf Life Saving Northern Region Development Officer Andy Kent says this rescue demonstrates the importance of lifeguard skills over and above surf rescues.

“Lifeguard first aid training and skills assist in a variety of emergency situations that occur on our beaches. If lifeguards not been there to assist in this situation chances are the outcome would have been very different”, said Mr Kent.

Lifeguards were alerted by the patient’s mother as the patient was found on the edge of the water drifting in and out of consciousness. The male patient was treated for shock, hypothermia and for a potential spine injury. Lifeguards stabilised him and monitored his vitals while waiting for the ambulance to arrive.

Lifeguards also comforted distressed family members of the patient.

The Lifeguards involved will be presented with a certificate, Real Groovy vouchers and two Hutchwilco lifejackets and as part of the award. The winning of this award automatically puts this rescue up for the Surf Life Saving New Zealand National Rescue of the Month award.

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Further Information:

SURF LIFE SAVING NORTHERN REGION RESCUE OF THE MONTH

Name of Club / Service: Muriwai Lifeguard Service
Date of Incident: Sunday 11 March 2007
Time of Incident: 1610 – approx 1700
Names of Lifeguards Involved:
(all must be refreshed) Danielle Shepherd (PC), Bart Cauldwell, David Butt, Katie Shepherd, Jean Paul Da Silva, Gemma Shepherd, Danny Tennheuval, Carla Lindsay, Dayna King and Ashlie Nobilo, Brent Matuschka
Location of Incident: Muriwai Beach

On Sunday 11 March, as the Muriwai Surf Life Saving patrol was closing on what was a busy but otherwise uneventful day, a member of the public approached surf lifeguard Bart Cauldwell and advised her son had collapsed and needed urgent attention.

As Bart was in the middle of packing up the patrol equipment he advised the rest of the patrol of his movements and went to investigate the situation.

Bart found the young man on the waters edge being supported by a family member. The patient had a severely altered level of consciousness and was in need of medical attention. It was ascertained that the patient had been hit in the head by a surfboard three hours earlier and had just dived into the water and hit his head on the bottom. Bart passed on patient details to patrol and advised he would need a spinal board and collar as well as oxygen and blankets to treat for minor shock.

Patrol Captain Danielle Shepherd contacted SurfCom and requested an ambulance, relaying all information she had. David Butt, Jean Paul Da Silva, Danny Tennheuval and Katie Shepherd arrived on the scene with the requested equipment. David, Bart, Danny and Jean Paul then worked quickly and carefully to stabilize and secure the patient on the spinal board and in the collar.

Lifeguards recognized the signs of shock and mild hypothermia and covered the patient in a blanket and administered oxygen. The patient was then safely transported to the first aid room in the back of the Muriwai rescue vehicle. At this stage the patient was barely conscious, responding well to painful stimuli, but not verbally coherent. His pupils were uneven and his breathing was fast and abnormal. First response arrived at the club and checked the patient. As the lifeguards had stabilized the spine and treated for shock there was little else that could be done apart from monitor his vitals.

Members of the patrol comforted the family while others continued to pack up the equipment. The Ambulance arrived shortly after and transported the patient to hospital.

ENDS

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