Terror for family as fierce rip snares six

A 26-year-old woman was taken to Tauranga Hospital with breathing problems after she became caught in a rip with five family members at Maketu yesterday.
The drama unfolded just after 3pm when a young boy and a relative got into trouble in the Maketu channel, prompting four other relatives to try to help. However, they also became stuck in the rip and were dragged out to sea.
Maketu Volunteer Sea Rescue chairman Shane Beech said emergency services were tipped off by residents on the beach. Mr Beech and volunteer firefighter Shane Gourlay launched Maketu's new rescue ski and went to the aid of two women.
One grabbed hold of the ski to stay afloat and the other needed Mr Gourlay's help. Twenty-five metres away the young boy and a man were screaming and yelling. Mr Beech said they reached them using the ski and helped the pair while they waited for the Maketu Rescue IRB to be launched.
The remaining two family members in the water managed to swim to shore _ albeit exhausted.
Mr Beech said up to 30 people had gathered on the beach, including other family members of those being rescued. The two rescued women were initially in a bad way, with one, a 26-year-old, taken to Tauranga Hospital.
"She was exhausted and had taken in some sea water. She was cold and had difficulty breathing," Mr Beech said.
The woman stayed overnight and was said to be in a satisfactory condition today. The boy and his male relative, as well as the others who made their own way to shore, recovered on the beach.
Mr Beech said that the Maketu firefighters were often called on to make surf rescues in Maketu, given the seaside town had a ``relatively new' club.
"They are still training up lifeguards to do the patrol. This was our third [surf] rescue callout in a week."
Mr Beech said locals knew the rips, currents and outgoing tides and it was often visitors who found themselves in difficulty.
Police today issued a statement saying they wished to acknowledge the ``quick and efficient' volunteer fire response to rescue the family members _ all from Rotorua.
On New Year's Eve, Mount Maunganui lifeguards rescued a local boy who had been rock climbing on Mauao and fallen, sustaining head injuries.