23 November 2015

Karekare Surf Lifesaving Club moves into the drone zone

In a New Zealand first, Karekare Surf Lifesaving Club will receive a surveillance drone, to trial in partnership with Surf Life Saving New Zealand and Surf Life Saving Northern Region, to further improve rescue response times in keeping our community safe in the water.

The drone was a gift from the Mayor of Guangzhou and to Mayor Len Brown who decided to gift it to Karekare after a discussion with club stalwart and Auckland Champion Sir Bob Harvey.

It is envisaged the drone will be used during a trial at the beach. Huge potential exists in its ability to be directed to fly to an area needing to be searched prior to other manned air assets coming onto the scene.

Similar research is being conducted in Australia which SLSNZ has been looking into. Lessons learnt from there, together with this trial, will add to the understanding of how this technology could be used to save lives in the future.

“We are absolutely delighted to be able to have the necessary equipment to start the process of trialling this exciting piece of new equipment,” says club patrol captain and fully qualified drone operator Matt Wade.

“It won’t take away the need for rescue craft and lifeguards but it will give us another pair of excellent eyes where it really counts.”

The Karekare club is 80 years old this season, the second oldest club in Auckland, and has saved 5000 people since its inception in 1935.

Valued at around $1000, the GHOST Basic drone’s merchandise describes it as the world’s easiest to fly and takes all editions of GoPro cameras including an auto-levelling function.

“Ideally we will be able to fly the drone north over the infamous Cauldron where many rescues take place and south over unpatrolled areas toward Whatipu and we will ensure we operate within Civil Aviation Authority regulations,” says Mr Wade.

“It will alert the lifeguards to people swimming out of the patrolled area and generally enhance our ability to save lives.”

Drones have been trialled by a surf club in Queensland with great success according to Mr Wade who says the club is very grateful to the Mayor for the gift.

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