Four in hospital after incident at West Auckland beach
Friday, 9 October 2020
Four people are in hospital after getting into trouble at a West Auckland beach.
Emergency services were called to O’Neill Bay, near Bethells Beach, shortly after midday.
While the group were all accounted for, a woman was helicoptered to Auckland City Hospital in serious condition. Three others in moderate condition were taken by ambulance.
A spokesman for Surf Life Saving Northern Region said it was called to three people being swept out to sea.
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**
By the time lifeguards arrived at the bay, a 45-year-old woman, a 16-year-old girl and a 14-year-old boy were back on the shore but the woman and boy were losing consciousness and showing signs of exhaustion and shock.
Lifeguards administered oxygen and performed first aid until the Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust arrived and transported the woman to hospital.
The boy had improved enough to be taken back to the Bethells surf club for further treatment by St John paramedics.
It’s the second time in five days that crews have had to scramble to O’Neill Bay – triggering a warning from rescuers.
On Monday, emergency services were alerted to a fisherman swept off the rocks at O’Neill Bay. He has still not been found.
With summer approaching, the Surf Life Saving Northern Region (SLSNR) has urged Kiwis not to get complacent on the coastline after noticing a spike in incidents across Northland, Auckland and Waikato.
This week alone, there have been six lives saved in the Northern region, and two deaths.
SLSNR chief executive Matt Williams said this year had also been the busiest winter in recent memory.
“We’ve had 33 call-outs for our Emergency Callout Squads since the start of May. In the whole of last year, we had just 31 call-outs,” Williams said.
“That’s a massive increase in our workload, and it’s forecast to keep growing.”
Sergeant Garry Larsen, of the Auckland Police Maritime Unit, also warned people to plan ahead and check the conditions, tides and marine forecast before going near the water.
On Tuesday, lifeguards from Bethells, United North Piha and Piha Surf Clubs attempted to rescue a 23-year-old woman who fell into the water off the rocks at White’s Beach, north of Piha. She died at the scene.