Girls plucked from river wall

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

Police called in surf lifeguards on Thursday night after two teenage girls were seen to be stranded on the river training wall between the Tūranganui River and Eastland Port.

Police contacted the Kaiaponi Farms Waikanae surf club at about 7.30pm.

An IRB was launched, the girls located and they were taken to the surf club for medical treatment.

“The 15-year-olds had some lacerations to their feet and legs, and one had an ankle injury,” a surf lifesaving spokeswoman said.

“They told us they had been running along the wall when they became stranded.”

The IRB crew picked them up off the wall opposite the old Watties wharf.

“Family members collected them from the surf club to take them home.”