Swimmers keep lifeguards busy

Dozens of near-drownings at popular North Island beaches have sparked warnings to holidaymakers from lifeguards.

Several swimmers have been seconds from being swept to their deaths over the last few days before lifeguards have stepped in.

From Christmas Day to Monday, 61 rescues were carried out by lifeguards in the Surf Life Saving northern region which covers Raglan up to Ahipara in the Far North.

There were 50 incidents of first aid, 22 searches and 50,000 preventative actions which included moving people from rips and picking up glass off the beach.

Muriwai lifeguards carried out 13 rescues and administered first aid seven times from Saturday to Monday.

Patrol superintendent for Muriwai beach surf lifesaving, David Butt, said most of the rescues happened outside the patrol flags on the main beach.

On Monday a teenager boogie-boarding at Maori Bay, south of Muriwai, started to drift out to sea while his family and friends were swimming closer to shore.

They were unable to reach him and a member of the public alerted the Muriwai lifeguards. They managed to pull him from the water and he was taken to hospital.

Muriwai lifeguards executed 550 preventative actions which involved about 7000 people.

Whangamata beach lifeguards carried out two rescues on Christmas Day including saving two children who were being dragged out to sea while swimming in an estuary.

Club captain Mike Thames said the estuary is at the south end of the beach, out of view from the lifeguards, however they roam the dunes on quad bikes every half an hour and happened to spot the children being swept away.

"They just don't really realise the dangers, they're not familiar with the surf," Mr Thames said. "They can still be swimming within the flags but there are a lot of feeder currents that lead to rips and before they know it they've drifted out."

He said wind changes often caught people unaware, especially kayakers.

Two weeks ago Maurice Philips, 24, drowned after he had been fishing from a kayak with a friend when it took on water and sank off Hauturu (Clark) Island, near Whangamata.

Mr Thames urged kayakers to always wear lifejackets and be aware of wind conditions.

The Raglan Surf Lifesaving Club carried out six rescues on Sunday including a group of four family members - all teenagers - who were starting to get out of their depth.

Club captain Debbie Phillips-Morgan said a lifeguard in the water noticed the group drifting out to sea. He swam to them with a member of the public who was on a boogie board.

They signalled back to shore and two other lifeguards sped out to the teenagers in the club boat to haul them back to safety.

Meanwhile, lifeguards at Hot Water Beach on the Coromandel peninsula had to rescue seven people over a few days last week when they swam out to a pod of dolphins that regularly visit the area.

Northern region lifesaving development officer Andy Kent said most of the 22 searches lifeguards had carried out were for parents of children who had become lost, especially on North Shore beaches.

* Surf lifesaving northern region from Christmas Day to Monday

61 rescues.

50 incidents of first aid.

22 searches.

50,000 preventative actions.