Lifeguards experience busiest winter in memory at northern beaches

Friday, 9 October 2020

Stay away from rocks and rips at the beach over summer, surf lifesavers say. (Video first published in November 2019.)

Surf Life Savers have experienced their busiest winter in recent memory, with five serious incidents, including two deaths, in less than a week.

Surf Life Saving Northern Region (SLSNR) is warning Kiwis on the water to not get complacent on the coastline after noticing the major uptick of incidents in Northland, Auckland and Waikato.

In the past five days there have been six lives saved and two deaths in the Northern region.

SLSNR chief executive Matt Williams said it had been the busiest winter in recent memory.

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Surf Life Savers searching for the missing fisherman near O'Neill’s Bay earlier this week.

“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.

“That’s a massive increase in our workload, and it’s forecast to keep growing.”

Each year the demand on volunteer lifeguards is increasing, Williams said.

“Should the situation remain unchecked it presents a concerning outlook in terms of water safety.”

Lifeguards were called out to beaches on Auckland’s west coast multiple times this week.

The spike itself is probably down to human nature, a new appreciation for the ocean following the Covid-19 lockdown, recent warm weather and school holidays, Williams said.

“Last week has shown just how many ways there are to get in trouble on the coast.”

A young woman died at Whites beach, near Piha, on Auckland's west coast on Tuesday.

Williams said it is vital people assess the risks before going out to the coast, especially since lifeguards aren’t on active duty until Labour Weekend.

“If you see someone in trouble call 111 and ask Police for the surf lifeguards – our Emergency Call outs Squads are available to respond 24/7.”

Recent incidents

On Thursday, lifeguards from the Piha Emergency Callout Squad (ECOS) were called out to rescue three people in distress at the Keyhole – a natural rock formation on the West Auckland beach.

Later that day on the same stretch of coastline, two lifeguards from the Muriwai Emergency Callout Squad were called to rescue a surfer who had been swept out.

On Tuesday, lifeguards from Bethells, United North Piha and Piha Surf Clubs were tasked with rescuing 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.

On Monday, Bethells Emergency Callout Squad were alerted to a fisherman swept off the rocks at O’Neill’s Bay. The man has still not been found.

On Sunday, lifeguards from the Mangawhai Heads Emergency Callout Squad had just finished a joint training exercise with Waipū Cove lifeguards when they noticed two girls stuck in a hole.

A lifeguard on a rescue board responded and with the help of a local surfer, paddled the two girls to safety.