Man who died saving children at Northland beach Cable Bay had saved before

Wairongoa Clarence Renata had saved another soldier while serving in East Timor. PHOTO / FACEBOOK

The man who died trying to save his children at Cable Bay was an army veteran who had saved a fellow soldier from losing an arm — if not his life — while serving in East Timor.

Wairongoa Clarence Renata, 54, died on Tuesday after going into the water to save five children caught in a rip. Beachgoers managed to get him to shore but he could not be resuscitated.

His 11-year-old daughter was unconscious when pulled from the water by rescuers, including a man on a paddleboard and a local policeman, and flown to Whangarei Hospital in a serious condition. She was discharged around noon yesterday.

Four other children were treated at the scene by St John medics.

Kaeo-born Mr Renata had moved to Palmerston North when he was in the army. More recently he worked in construction with Higgins, a contracting firm, but his wife is still employed by the Defence Force.

Nicknamed ''Magoo'', he remained a staunch Kaeo man and kept up his links to the community, particularly through whanau and rugby.

He was also involved in kaupapa waka, paddling the great waka Ngatokimatawhaorua on Waitangi Day.

A family spokesman said the whanau was gathering to support one another and to be there for Mr Renata's partner and their children.

He acknowledged the words of kindness and support offered in online tributes by members of the public and those who had shared time with Renata in the army and as a contractor in Palmerston North.

A former Whangarei man who served alongside him in East Timor said he was ''a real character'' and credited Mr Renata with saving him from serious injury, if not worse, after vehicle they were in was hit by an armoured personnel carrier (APC).

''He at least saved my arm when the non-military vehicle we were in got hit by an APC,'' the former soldier, who did not want to be named, said.

''He pulled me out of the way just before it hit. It was coming from my blind spot so I couldn't see it. My arm had been resting on the tray where it hit.''

He said Mr Renata later did contracting work in Iraq where everyone spoke highly of him.

''He was a real character. He used to wear his smock in Timor, fully buttoned up, and on 'cold days' he'd wear a thermal top under it ... We're talking about 36-40C, and 95 per-cent-plus humidity as a 'cold day' there.''

Mr Renata was due to lie briefly at Mangaiti Marae in Kaeo yesterday before heading to Te Tahaawai Marae in nearby Pupuke. He would remain there until his burial, expected to take place at 11am on Monday.