Wednesday, 5 January 2022, 6:23 am Press Release: Surf Life Saving Northern Region
Surf Life Saving Northern Region (SLSNR) is urging the
beach-going public to take much greater care this summer in
the face of an alarming number of fatalities at New Zealand
beaches and inland waterways.
SLSNR Lifesaving
Operations Manager James Lea says a high level of rescues
and assists at Northern Region beaches over the long New
Year’s weekend were down to a number of recurring
factors.
“A key issue is that many people don’t
understand the beach conditions,” he says. “They
over-estimate their own ability and underestimate the
conditions, which can change very quickly. We strongly
advise people to go to the SafeSwim website and check out
possible beaches to go to before they head out; the site
will give the best times for swimming at those beaches, the
conditions and any hazards, and the water
quality.
“It goes without saying that we also advise
people to go to a patrolled beach. Unfortunately, we’re
finding a lot of our rescues are at unpatrolled beaches and
the delay in getting there can be critical.”
Lea
says once at the beach, people should also swim between the
flags. “We’ve had instances of people being told
repeatedly to move to the safe area between the flags, then
getting into serious difficulty. It’s important to listen
to the lifeguards; they know the risks and dangers. Have a
chat to them about the conditions.”
An important
consideration for anyone going into the water – ocean,
river or lake – is whether they are able to float for
10-15 minutes when out of their depth, says Lea. “If you
can, and get into difficulty, you are likely to be rescued.
If you can’t, then you should think twice before jumping
in.”
People need to fully understand their level of
water confidence, says Lea. “Our statistics tell us the
most at-risk groups are 15-24-year-olds and people over 65.
The younger group lack experience and tend to be higher
risk-takers, while the older group may over-estimate their
own ability in the water.”
Summary for Tuesday 4
January
Major incidents at the Northern Region
beaches today included:
Omaha -
Lifeguards responded to an incident before patrolling hours
after SurfCom was advised by Police that there was a person
stuck on the rocks near Anchor Bay at on the Tawharanui
Peninsula. An IRB dispatched from Omaha and searched
approximately 1km north and south of Anchor Bay before the
Police Eagle Helicopter arrived on scene and located the
person on the other side of the peninsula, where the male
who had an open fracture to his ankle was picked up by a
lifeguard, two Police Officers and a Park Ranger and the
patient was helicopter from the scene to get medical
treatment. Omaha lifeguards also assisted three people: the
first was approximately 100m offshore in between the flags
and was assisted by a lifeguard who had noticed them
struggling to get back to shore; the other two were assisted
at the same time, 50m to the south of the flagged area,
lifeguards assisted the two onto a sandbank and then back to
shore after the pair had raised their hands to signal they
needed help.
Kariaotahi had a major
first-aid when a 35-year-old male came off a bike on the
beach and was knocked unconscious and required oxygen before
being taken by ambulance to
hospital.
Orewa lifeguards rescued
two people today who were stranded after their jet-ski had
broken down. An IRB crew transported both people and their
craft to Red Beach. Orewa had a major first-aid after a
patient was hit in the back of the neck by their surfboard
and was in a lot of pain but able to make their own way to
get medical treatment. Orewa guards also searched for and
located an 11-year-old girl whose parents had lost track of
her after she went boogie-boarding between the flags. Orewa
also responded to an incident at Wenderholm where the
patient was tragically declared deceased. Orewa’s Search
and Rescue Squad was activated at 1941 to assist with a
search and rescue for a male in his 40s who was an hour
overdue from a swim at Waiwera Beach. Police and Coastguard
also responded and Orewa’s IRB that was on route was stood
down at 1957 after Police advised that a member of the
public had assisted the
individual.
Mangawhai Heads carried
out two major first-aids today. The first involved a
58-year-old female who fell down while walking the Mangawhai
Heads cliff walk, lacerating her knees, right arm and
shoulder. She had major pain in her arm and after a
preliminary assessment by lifeguards was referred to a
doctor. The second first-aid occurred near the campground
partially up the estuary, where a female had been swimming
before collapsing in the water. Lifeguards assisted with
attempts to resuscitate the patient, but sadly she was also
confirmed deceased.
Muriwai guards
assisted a surfer who was stuck in a hole in front of the
tower, approximately 50m out to
sea.
Raglan rescued an 11-year-old
male and assisted five further people. The five assists were
all performed on the south side of the flags; all required
assistance to shore.
