Deadly Waters - $25,000 jet ski part of concerted safety effort

BUSY SUMMER AHEAD - Whangarei's Bream Bay is becoming more popular, with at least four camping grounds on the edge of the coastal paradise.

Kristin Edge reports on changes made to stop drownings in Bream Bay

An increase in drownings on the Bream Bay coast and rising numbers of Chinese people struggling in the surf while they are crabbing, with tragic consequences, has prompted a major beach safety initiative.

Over the past five years, Uretiti beach has claimed four lives, with three people dying in the last summer season.

Already 10 people have drowned in Northland this year with the busy beach season yet to come.

Waipu police Senior Constable Martin Geddes wants to reduce the number of water tragedies and has organised for safety signs in different languages to be at every major entrance to the beach and is calling for volunteers to patrol the beach to provide advice for Asian beachgoers.

Another initiative to keep the coast safe is the addition of a Bream Bay jet ski patrol. The Northern Advocate joined forces with Whangarei Lions and Surf Life Saving New Zealand to get the $25,000 for the potentially life-saving jet ski after the drownings away from patrolled areas.

The jet ski will be based at Ruakaka and could go as far as Whangarei Heads when required.

Most of the money was raised by Whangarei Racing Club and four Lions clubs.

Mr Geddes said, in the 15 years he had policed at Waipu, he had noticed a big increase in the number of people using the beaches. In particular were visitors from the Asian community in Auckland, who had been fishing for paddle crabs at the beach.

"I decided something needed to be done to prevent more drownings on this stretch of beach."

On Christmas Day last year, tragedy struck when a 25-year-old international student Heng Li drowned in the surf at Uretiti Beach while crabbing. Prior to his death there were numerous water rescues as the crabbers struck trouble in rough sea conditions.

"They put themselves at extreme risk as their ability in the water is poor and the don't have the experience to read the sea conditions."

Traditionally, the crabbers came north on Christmas and New Year's Day, but now large numbers of Asians made the trip from Auckland on weekends over summer.

Mr Geddes worked with WaterSafe Auckland to produce a pamphlet about crab fishing safely, in a variety of languages, which will be handed out to people on the beach by surf lifeguards and at local camp grounds. "We know we aren't going to stop people going into the water but, if they can wear a life jacket, that can buy them some time to be rescued," Mr Geddes said.

Last summer, there was a deep trench running along the beach with a current which was similar to a medium to fast flowing river.

"The waves were breaking heavily on a bar about 50 metres from the shore, which would be very challenging conditions for a very strong and confident swimmer."

Beach conditions would be similar again this summer.

Mr Geddes said part of the prevention plan was getting volunteers to patrol the beaches to educate the crabbers. The ambassadors will work under the direction of Ruakaka and Waipu Surf Clubs.

The volunteers do not need to be swimmers as their role will be beach safety educators and "eyes and ears".

"The ability to speak Chinese or Korean will be an advantage but not a requirement to becoming a beach patroller," Mr Geddes said.

The signs will be at the entrances before the end of November.

- Anyone interested in helping make Bream Bay a safer beach should contact Mr Geddes on 09 432 4030 or email martin.geddes@police.govt.nz or Sergeant Simon Craig on 09 432 7719.