Cousins battle to save drowning woman

Brenton Tua, 17, from Sydney and Sadieux Tua, 14, of Whangarei rushed to save a Nelson couple who got into difficulty at Takou Bay on Saturday. Photo / Supplied

Two teenage cousins tried everything in their power to rescue a woman who drowned at a Northland beach, with one getting caught in a rip himself after helping save the woman's partner.

The 54-year-old woman drowned while boogie boarding at Takou Bay, between the Bay of Islands and Whangaroa Harbour, about 12.15pm on Saturday.

It is believed the Nelson couple had been told not to swim at the beach because of the strong currents. The woman had also taken off a moonboot, similar to a cast, from her injured leg to go swimming.

Kerikeri resident Aaron Wood spoke to the couple just before they entered the water. He said the woman had told him she had broken her leg and had only had the cast taken off a few days ago. She had been limping on the beach, he said.

After about 10 minutes of the couple entering the water, the alarm was raised.

"We heard them scream. He was waving his arms around."

With no thought for their own safety, cousins Brenton Tua, 17, from Sydney and Sadieux Tua, 14, of Whangarei rushed from the nearby campsite and waded into the dangerous surf with their own boogie boards to attempt a rescue.

"We could only see one person in the water, so we just started running in," Brenton said.

He managed to reach the woman's 64-year-old partner and pushed him back to his younger cousin.

Sadieux helped the exhausted man to shore but was himself caught in a rip trying to go back out to help Brenton. While Sadieux got himself back to the beach, Brenton found the unresponsive woman in the surf and pulled her back to the beach.

Members of the public, including the youngsters' auntie - a nurse - performed CPR for around 30 minutes.

Sergeant Ross Laurie of Kerikeri police said that when an ambulance arrived, the woman was pronounced dead.

Mr Laurie commended the efforts of the two youths in what he described as rough surf.

The Nelson couple had been staying at the campground run by the cousins' family for two nights, and had been told by locals not to go into the water, Brenton said.

The sandy beach was popular with swimmers and fishermen, though was known for having strong currents and large surf.

Mr Woods said the cousins did everything they could have under the circumstances.

The woman remained unnamed at edition time and police were attempting to contact family overseas.

Her death had been referred to the coroner.

The woman's partner had remained at the campsite after receiving medical attention but he did not require hospitalisation.