'Heroic' rescue on 90 Mile Beach

RIGHT MAN, RIGHT TIME: Dudley Andrews, who has hailed by police as a hero following the rescue of two small boys at Waipapakauri Ramp on Sunday.

Police had no doubt that two small Kaitaia boys, aged around 5 or 6, were in imminent danger of drowning when a former soldier went to their rescue on 90 Mile Beach on Sunday afternoon.

Dudley 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 50 or 60 metres beyond the breakers when he entered the water with a bodyboard. The boy was on his back and kicking, but was going under the water.

Mr Dudley assured him, as he got close, that he was there to help him and that he would be okay, then comforted him as he paddled him back to reunite him with his family.

"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 100 metres 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 added.

"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."

The two boys were checked by a St John crew and did not require hospital treatment.