Far North woman saves toddler with CPR at Cable Bay beach

A woman may have helped save the life of a toddler on Sunday after seeing him unconscious in his father's arms at Northland's Cable Bay. Photo / NZME

A woman’s trip to a Far North beach to collect shells turned into a lifesaving visit when a distressed father appeared carrying his unconscious toddler.

The Kāeo woman, who did not want to be named, said she had gone to Cable Bay early on Sunday evening to look for shells.

She looked up and saw a distraught man, carrying the limp body of a toddler wearing swimming shorts up the beach.

The woman, who has a medical background, leapt into action to help the boy, she thought was about 18 months old.

“The boy wasn’t breathing,” she said.

The woman started CPR and the toddler eventually started to breathe again.

“It was such a relief,” she said.

The woman asked people to fetch items that would keep the boy warm. A “lovely” lady offered a red woollen jacket.

A member of the public had called 111.

Hato Hone St John and Fire and Emergency New Zealand confirmed they responded to a medical event at Cable Bay at about 6pm.

The woman stepped back when firefighters from the Mangōnui Volunteer Fire Brigade arrived.

The boy was taken by ambulance to Kaitāia Hospital in a critical condition.

The idea she may have saved a life still felt surreal to the woman.

She said the decision to go shell hunting when she did had been “miraculous timing”.

The woman had received a message from the boy’s mother yesterday asking if she was the “lady in the purple hat” before thanking her.

She said she was heartened by those who also stepped in to help.

“... This is the real beauty of humanity.”

The woman said the incident was a timely reminder for people to brush up on their first-aid skills in readiness for the busy summer season.

She said her first-aid skills had come automatically to her, and encouraged others to learn.

Brodie Stone covers crime and emergency for the Northern Advocate. She has spent most of her life in Whangārei and is passionate about delving into issues that matter to Northlanders and beyond.