Sisters dive in to help Coastguard to say thanks for ‘terrifying rescues’ 30 years apart

Wednesday, 10 June 2026

Vicky Jones, left, and her sister Julie Wiltshire have signed up for the Big Swim, a nationwide fundraising campaign for Coastguard’s volunteer crews.

Growing up in Canterbury, sisters Vicky Jones and Julie Wiltshire developed a lifelong love of the water. But they also learned to respect it.

More than 30 years apart, Coastguard volunteers rescued members of their family in two separate emergencies — one involving a 12-year-old boy drifting out to sea, the other a 20-year-old man battling 3m swells in darkness.

The “terrifying experiences” reinforced a lesson the Ashburton sisters said everyone should remember: never underestimate the water.

This month, the duo are taking part in Coastguard’s Big Swim fundraiser to support the volunteers who twice came to their family’s aid.

For Jones, 47, that lesson came when she was only 14. She was boating in Lyttelton Harbour with her boyfriend — now husband, Aaron Jones — and his younger brother when a passing container ship created a massive wave that capsized their small boat.

Jones and Aaron were thrown into the water but managed to swim ashore. His 12-year-old brother remained in the drifting boat and was carried further out by the current.

“It all happened so fast. A massive container ship went past us and caused a massive wake, and we weren’t ready for the follow-up wake,” she said.

Coastguard volunteers were called and safely rescued the boy.

Then, more than three decades later, the family needed Coastguard’s help again.

Last year, Wiltshire’s son Zander, 20, and a group got stranded near a bar crossing in Motunau, Hurunui, after his boat became trapped while waiting for the tide to return.

As darkness fell, conditions deteriorated rapidly, said Wiltshire, 52.

Vicky Jones and her sister Julie Wiltshire witnessed two Coastguard rescues with members of their family.

A wave broke over the vessel, knocking off its auxiliary motor and fuel cans, and threw her son into the water.

The others managed to stay in the boat, but became worried about Zander’s safety as they could not see him, she said.

“The sea got really rough. He was in the water in 3m swells and it was pitch-black dark. In 8C water.”

Wearing a life jacket, Zander managed to fight his way back to the boat.

“If he didn't have his life jacket, he would have drowned because the swells kept pushing him under and then popping him up.”

The group remained stranded in rough seas and darkness until Coastguard volunteers arrived.

For Wiltshire, the rescue crews were “just like angels on the water”.

The experience inspired her to sign up for Coastguard’s Big Swim fundraiser, which challenges participants to set a swimming goal throughout June while raising money for Coastguard’s volunteer crews.

The Big Swim is a nationwide fundraising campaign challenging Kiwis to set a personal swimming goal throughout June to raise funds for Coastguard’s volunteer crews.

Jones soon joined her.

“It was quite funny because when I was doom-scrolling at night before I went to sleep, I noticed Julie had put something on about doing it. I went to sponsor her and I was like, ‘hang on a minute, instead of sponsoring her, I should do it too’.”

Together, they hope to raise awareness of Coastguard’s work and support the volunteers who dedicate their time to helping others.

The sisters have each set themselves a goal of swimming 20km during June, with Jones already halfway there after completing 10km in her first three days.

“If we can give something back, give some money back to them to help get better equipment or better resources to help people in the future — that means saving more lives,” Jones said.

Last year, more than 2500 people took part in the Big Swim, collectively swimming nearly 30,000km and raising more than $640,000.