Granddad dies saving kids from vicious rip

Jackie Wiki was fishing at the Bluff when he saw his grandchildren in trouble. Photo / Salt Air

A notoriously dangerous stretch of Northland beach has claimed the life of an Auckland man trying to pull his grandchildren from a rip.

Jackie Maynard Wiki, 55, was fishing at the Bluff - about 60km north of Ahipara on Ninety Mile Beach - when he saw his grandson and granddaughter in trouble while swimming yesterday afternoon.

Mr Wiki stayed underwater, holding his grandson clear, until another rescuer could take him to shore, a witness told police. Another beachgoer took the granddaughter to safety.

It is understood Mr Wiki died at the scene after ambulance officers failed to revive him.

Those who know the area last night spoke of the dangers of the Bluff.

Mr Wiki's neighbour and close friend Noddy Pako, who grew up near the beach, said the spot where his friend died was a well-known "no-go zone".

"There's one rule on that rock and it's about kids. No kids are allowed to go there because if you get caught [in a rip] that's it," he said.

"Where he went off is the most dangerous place. You have to be a hard swimmer to get out of that and he got out of it - saved those kids - but he died as a result."

Cheryl Harrison, of Harrison Cape Runner Tours, said her family fished all over the North Island but avoided that spot. She said people got into trouble "fairly regularly".

"You have to be so careful, but it doesn't matter how careful you are, mother nature can throw a wave up."

Mr Pako described his friend's death as a shock, but said Mr Wiki action's were heroic. "They said he was a hero, a real hero ... saving his mokos. He put his body on the line for those kids."

A cousin of Mr Wiki said the grandchildren were his "backbone".

Inspector Lou Alofa said the children were okay "but the issue before them now is emotional trauma over the loss of the 55-year-old".

Meanwhile, two other people were killed in water accidents around the North Island yesterday.

A 38-year-old woman died after being swept away while riding a horse across the Ruamahanga River, about 5km north of Masterton, about 2pm.

Her riding companion tried to save the woman after her horse fell and she was swept away. She and another friend searched and found the woman downstream.

Emergency services and the Westpac rescue helicopter attended but were unable to save her.

About the same time, a 52-year-old Palmerston North man collapsed and died suddenly after windsurfing on Lake Taupo. A St John spokesman said a member of the public gave the man CPR before the ambulance arrived.

The incident happened near the Sails Motor Lodge on Lake Terrace. Owner Chris Younger said he could see ambulance officers trying to resuscitate the man, whose body was laying on the waterline.

- ADDITIONAL REPORTING: Alanah May Eriksen