Caught in a rip, put your hands up where the life guards can see. Photo/ file
Caught in a rip, put your hands up where the life guards can see. Photo/ file
An afternoon dip at the beach took a nasty turn for a group of eight swimmers on Tuesday when they were caught in a rip at Castlecliff beach in Whanganui
A mother in her 40s and an 11-year-old boy were rescued by surf lifeguards, while the remaining swimmers, including Helena Ferguson and her two sons, fought their way back into shore.
Mrs Ferguson said they were all confident swimmers and always kept between the flags but Tuesday's incident was a scary wake-up call.
"I was in the water talking to my friend, who was with her three teenage kids, when I heard my sister yelling that my son was in trouble."
Mrs Ferguson said she looked around and could see her sister pulling her son into shore.
"I thought I better help so I tried to get to them but was struggling. I started to make some head way and then saw that my friend who I had just been talking to yelling for help and waving at the lifeguard."
Mrs Ferguson said at this point she was really quite scared.
"My youngest son who was in trouble made it back safely with my sister thankfully. I was trying to get back in but the water was up to my neck and every time a wave would come I would try to swim in but the pull was incredible."
Mrs Ferguson said when she finally made it to shore she called to the lifeguard and pointed to my friend.
"In all drama, I hadn't even noticed that my older son and 11-year-old nephew were still out there battling to get back in.
"My nephew had to be rescued and luckily my son swam in safely with them."
CAUGHT IN A RIP: Swim sideways or put your hands up for a life-guard.
Whanganui's Surf Lifesaving Club supervisor Phil Gilmore, who was at the scene, said
the group were caught in a double rip that can be very dangerous.
"It appeared suddenly between the flags but they all responded really well putting their hands up for help."
He said the most important thing when caught in that situation was to put your hands up.
"If you are swimming between the flags our lifeguards will see you and rush out."
Mrs Ferguson said they were lucky and it was a wake-up call to get more careful.
"If my sister hadn't been there for my son I don't know what would have happened because I just could not get to him. He probably would have gone under and that's a scary thought."
