Surf Lifesaving patrols this weekend (Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 November) were on duty right across the motu as Canterbury surf lifesaving clubs also opened their season.

Surf lifeguards collectively worked 3946 hours over the weekend and performed 479 preventative actions to keep people safe across all patrolled beaches.

With the weather warming up, beaches are getting busier and this weekend’s estimated headcount was 9,377 during patrol hours. There was a total of 13 rescues over two days, plus four major first aid responses and one Search and Rescue (SAR) response.

The weekend’s operations included:

• In Papamoa there were two rescues in the same un-patrolled beach location, one on Saturday afternoon and one on Sunday afternoon. 
  On Saturday at 3.30pm a person in distress had their hand up and screamed for help which alerted members of the public, who advised police then lifeguards. A bystander paddled out to them on a surfboard with a lifejacket and kept them afloat until lifeguards arrived on the scene and assisted them both to shore to be assessed by Hato Hone St John. 
  On Sunday in the same location at approximately 4.30pm, Surf Life Saving received a notification from St John of another rescue involving two people. Lifeguards had finished for the day, and were stood down a short time later after the pair were brought to shore by members of the public.
• At Mount Maunganui on Saturday a person was pulled from the water outside of the patrol area by a member of the public, and lifeguards responded to administer oxygen and transport the person to an ambulance.
• Kariaotahi SAR was activated on Saturday for an after-hours rescue of three people who were swept out close to the surf lifesaving club. Lifeguards rescued both and brought them back to shore safely. 
  Also on Sunday at Kariaotahi, members of the public altered police to three people in the water needing assistance. The SAR team was activated, while the bystanders performed the initial rescue using boogie boards, and lifeguards arrived to assess and monitor them until handing over to paramedics. All three people were able to be released.
• On Saturday Raglan SLSC lifeguards extended their patrol until 7.00pm due to the number of people on the beach. At 6.50pm, Lifeguards who were out training were approached by a member of the public concerned about two people they had seen in the water. The lifeguards conducted an initial search in the IRB and found the two swimmers well past the break zone. The patients were rescued and cared for by lifeguards until the ambulance arrived.
• In the south, Canterbury patrols started their season and on Saturday St Clair SLSC lifeguards responded in an IRB (inflatable rescue boat) to two boys approximately 75m offshore in the break zone and returned them to safety.

Aggregated patrol statistics:

Surf Life Saving New Zealand regions:

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