Lifeguard has neck shattered in beating

A volunteer lifeguard has had his neck shattered by a mob of four youths in a brutal beach attack that has shocked lifesaving officials.
James Bidois was on patrol when he was attacked, suffering a broken neck.
The assault has sent shockwaves through Western Bay of Plenty lifeguards and lifeguard officials say it is the first such attack they know of in New Zealand.
It happened at Whangarei Heads on Sunday about 3.50pm.
Mr Bidois, a father of four, was scheduled to have surgery yesterday to fit a traction device _ a metal ring held in place by bolts into the skull and a supporting frame _ to immobilise his neck.
Doctors say the 48-year-old builder will stay in hospital until the end of the week and will wear the device for at least three months while his neck heals.
In Tauranga today, Surf Life Saving Bay of Plenty operations manager, Ben Fuller, said he was appalled at the beating and his thoughts were with the victim.
"This man is a volunteer who is giving up his time to provide a life-saving service. I think it is appalling what has happened to him," Mr Fuller said.
Mr Fuller said lifeguards were advised on how to deal with confrontations but said he had not heard of any in the Bay of Plenty.
"The public respect us and our job and, over time, they have become more aware of what we do. There have been times where there have been arguments but thankfully nothing serious."
The victim's 20-year-old son Sam arrived half an hour after the attack.
"He was in the sick bay at the club. He was getting sorted out but he was real dozy and had a cut under his eye," he said. "I just wanted to find the guys who did it."
It is understood the youths were speaking to a trainee lifeguard when they were approached by Mr Bidois, who has been a lifeguard at the beach for five years.
Sam said the news had shocked him, his 17-year-old brother and his two sisters aged 14 and 12.
"I just want to know why this happened ... It's never happened before. Why was Dad targeted?"
Sam was to take his siblings to Whangarei Hospital last night after the operation. The injured man's wife, Susan, had been at her husband's bedside, only returning home to sleep.
Whangarei Heads Surf Lifesaving Club president Rod Boswell described the assault as an horrific but entirely isolated incident.
"It's a shocking situation to have happen on the beach. I've spent a big part of my life lifeguarding. This is the first time I've ever had this kind of thing happen."
Mr Boswell said he was worried young volunteers could be frightened off wanting to become lifeguards. ``This could be totally damaging to our club. Our concern at the moment is to offer him and his family the support they need. And also to support other, especially younger, club members.
"We'll work out, from a club point of view, what happened. And work out protocols that might prevent our members being put in the same situation."
Mr Boswell would wait for the official club report and talk to club members and other witnesses.
There would then be a debriefing and counselling would be offered to younger lifeguards.
Surf Life Saving New Zealand chief executive Geoff Barry said in his 30 years of lifeguarding, he had never heard of an assault on a guard.
Generally speaking the public are very respectful of lifeguards.
"In this situation they have taken a pretty aggressive stance and there is no excuse. Hopefully the people involved will get their just desserts."
An 18-year-old Tikipunga man appeared in Whangarei District Court yesterday charged with assault and was remanded to reappear later this month.
NORTHERN ADVOCATE/BAY TIMES STAFF EDITORIAL _ PAGE 10