Coastguard Warns of Use of Inflatable Devices in Open Water

Coastguard Warns About Use of Inflatable Devices in Open Water

Coastguard is advising Kiwis to be vigilant when using inflatable toy devices on the open water after three incidents yesterday where people were blown out to sea.

Coastguard’s Communications and SAR Response Centre first received a call about an adult and two children being swept out into the main shipping channel on the Manukau Harbour after being unable to paddle their inflatable toy raft ashore.

A bystander who called Coastguard observed the group being taken out by the outgoing tide around Puponga Point and towards the notoriously dangerous Manukau Bar.

Coastguard volunteers from Coastguard Titirangi were dispatched and the people involved were soon spotted by the Police Eagle Helicopter safely ashore on the rocks at Puponga Point. All people involved were wearing life jackets.

Just minutes later, Coastguard received another call about two children in an inflatable toy boat being blown off shore from Maraetai Beach.

The children had abandoned their inflatable device in an attempt to swim it ashore. The wind quickly blew the boat away, separating them from it and leaving them floating 300 meters off shore.

Coastguard volunteers from Howick Rescue One were dispatched immediately to assist the two children back to shore. While on scene a similar incident occurred in the same vicinity with a group of two adults and two children also needing assistance from Coastguard.

Mark Leevers, Duty Officer for Coastguard’s Northern Region says it is a relief that Coastguard was able to reach each person and bring them safely to shore.

“These incidents highlight the danger of using inflatable toy devices in a fast changing environment which can quickly turn dangerous. We can’t stress enough the importance of wearing life jackets when out enjoying the water to improve your survival,” he says.

Safety Messages

• Life Jackets; Take them – Wear them. Boats, especially ones under 6m in length, can sink very quickly. Wearing a life jacket increases your survival time in the water.
• Skipper Responsibility - The skipper is responsible for the safety of everyone on board and for the safe operation of the boat. Stay within the limits of your vessel and your experience.
• Communications - Take two separate waterproof ways of communication so we can help you if you get into difficulties.
• Marine Weather – New Zealand’s weather can be highly unpredictable. Check the local marine weather forecast before you go and expect both weather and sea state changes.

About Coastguard Northern Region

Coastguard is the charity that provides New Zealand’s primary maritime search and rescue service. The organisation operates from a network of four regions and 71 affiliated units, located around the coastline and major lakes of New Zealand. Coastguard’s Northern Region covers from Thames across to Kawhia and up both coasts to the Far North.

Each year Coastguard’s Auckland based Communication & SAR Response Centre receives over 100,000 VHF marine radio calls. Last year Coastguard’s 2,224 volunteers ensured that 6,996 people were bought safely back to shore.

Coastguard Northern Region however, is equipped to manage more than just daring rescues at sea. Generations of dedicated people have established an organisation that provides a wealth of services to every person using our harbours and beaches.

• We provide a 24 hour a day, 365 days a year service.
• Install and maintain VHF radio repeaters throughout the Northern Region to enable mariners to communicate with each other over long distances.
• Install and maintain buoys and beacons to make recreational boating safer.
• Provide a 24 hour continuous weather forecast on marine radio VHF channels 20, 21, 22 and 23.
• Accept trip reports from any vessel able to make radio contact.
• Provide a range of boating education courses to ensure that boaties have a sound knowledge of their boats and the rules of the road at sea.

ENDS