Rock fishing safety reminder

Media Release
For Immediate Use
3 November 2006

West coast surf lifeguards say timely rock fishing safety reminder

Auckland’s west coast surf lifeguards are urging rock fishermen to remember key safety tips after a male fisherman was swept off Camel Rock at Piha on Sunday.

Surf Life Saving Northern Region Lifesaving development officer Andy Kent said people fishing at beaches should ensure they ask for advice from lifeguards and swap heavy clothing and gumboots for lace up shoes, wetsuits and lifejackets.

“While we work hard on educating the public on water safety and rock fishing safety, the 2005/2006 lifeguard season saw a number of preventable deaths from rock fishermen that were either ill-prepared or didn’t understand the dangers of our west coast beaches”.

More rock fishing safety tips can be found at www.lifesaving.org.nz/education/fishing_safety

A search for the missing fisherman was conducted by the Piha Surf Life Saving Club, the Westpac Rescue Helicopter and Police. The missing fisherman has not yet been found.

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