A set of freak conditions conspired to catch 15 children in a rip yesterday, forcing lifeguards at Riversdale Beach to call for all hands in a major rescue effort.
Peter Taylor, junior captain of the Riversdale Surf Lifesaving Club, east of Masterton, said the warm weather had brought a few
more people back to the beach yesterday after a long cold spell.
About 2.30pm lifeguards spotted two children in trouble and sent swimmers out to help them.
"It was only a couple of them that were in trouble at the start so we sent out a couple of swimmers. But by the time they'd got out there it escalated and there were about 15 of them drowning.
"There were a few things that led up to the event. We had a pretty dodgy set of big waves that came through. They got swept off their feet and there was a current going south that dragged them towards the rip and that rip took them out to sea.
"From there another big set of waves came through and they started to panic because they were getting hammered by the waves."
Mr Taylor was one of the first swimmers to reach the rip and said the signal was quickly given that assistance was required.
Back on shore, those on patrol were joined by off duty lifeguards - about 13 in all - who grabbed boats and rushed to help.
"There was a massive effort from one of the off-duty guards who was in the flags. He was the other swimmer and him and his friend, who isn't even a life guard, managed to go around and hold up most of the kids until we could get the boat to them," Mr Taylor said.
"It put a lot of stress on the whole patrol. Everyone who was down on the beach was involved and there were off-duty guards that were hanging around the beach who came running down to help out because when we brought (the children) in, some of them started collapsing on the beach."
Ambulances were called for three of the children but by the time they arrived only one, a 14-year-old girl, needed hospital treatment.
Those rescued were aged between nine and 14 and Mr Taylor said they might have underestimated the conditions and gone beyond their depth.
"As soon as they were off their feet they all started to panic and that starts getting messy."
- NZPA
