Hero gets to kids just in time

Dudley Andrews, who was hailed by police as a hero following the rescue of two small boys at Waipapakauri Ramp on Sunday. Photo / Peter Jackson

When Far North man Dudley Andrews saw two young boys close to drowning on Ninety Mile Beach his military training kicked in and he's been credited with saving their lives.

Police said the two young boys were close to drowning when the former soldier went to their rescue on Ninety Mile Beach on Sunday afternoon.

Mr Andrews, who lives at Kauri Flat, north of Awanui, and his family drove on to the beach at Waipapakauri Ramp, intending to head south to look for tuatua, when they saw that a child had been swept out beyond the surf.

A man, who according to police had been keeping an eye on the boys, had gone into the water but could not swim and had himself needed rescuing.

Mr Andrews said the first youngster was 50m or 60m beyond the breakers when he entered the water with a body board. The boy was on his back and kicking, but was going under the water. Both boys were about 5 or 6-years-old.

"Before I got back to the beach I saw people further up pointing. I thought they were warning me about a rip, but there was another boy, about 100m out from the surf," he said.

He went back into the water, this time accompanied by a surfer with a board.

"He was on his back and kicking too, but he was going under," he said.

"He disappeared 10 or 15 seconds before I got to him but I managed to grab hold of hair, then his hand, and pulled him back to the surface. He was crying by the time we got him on the surfboard, which I thought was a good sign."

Mr Andrews, who was still emotional and near exhaustion an hour after the rescue, said his 17 years in the military had stood him in good stead.

"I told myself to keep calm and stay focused," he said.

"I wouldn't have been any use to anyone if I hadn't kept it together."

Police said the boys were in imminent danger of drowning when Mr Dudley rescued them.

They were checked by St John medics but did not require hospital treatment.

Others have not been so lucky on Ninety Mile Beach this summer.

Sixteen-year-old Jarod Lineses of Auckland died after he was caught in a rip at Hukatere and swept out to sea on December 27.

A 61-year-old who collapsed while surfcasting is thought to have died of medical causes.