Teenager praised for rescue effort as man dies at Takapuna Beach

A man died at Takapuna Beach on Monday after he was spotted unresponsive in the water. Photo / Supplied

A teenage girl has been commended for her bravery after pulling an unconscious man out of the water at a popular Auckland beach.

She was among several others who rushed to the aid of the man who later died.

Police said at midday yesterday on Takapuna Beach, they were advised a man was seen unresponsive in the water and had been pulled on to the beach.

Despite the best efforts of officers and other emergency services at the scene, the man could not be saved.

A family member of a witness told the Herald the defibrillator box on site allegedly would not open and the code provided did not work.

They claimed the back-up “ghost code” for the defibrillator also failed during the urgent rescue response.

Hato Hone St John has been approached for comment in relation to the defibrillator claims.

Beachgoers step in

Kaipātiki Local Board member Emma Ryburn-Phengsavath said a Year 11 student, other beachgoers and a kite surfer helped pull the man out of the water.

She told the Herald she saw a woman in a dress running towards the beach while she was at a nearby cafe just before midday yesterday.

“Mere seconds later, I saw two other women sprinting down Gibbons Rd, whilst simultaneously two police cars tore down The Strand, quickly followed by two ambulance vehicles and a fire truck,” Ryburn-Phengsavath said in a post.

She then walked towards the beach alongside other beachgoers who were looking towards the sea.

“Initially, there were three young women at the beach who ran into the water and pulled the man out of the water, one of whom [the student] is a lifeguard from Mairangi Bay Surf Lifesaving Club.

“She used her skills, what she was trained to do, and I want to commend her for her bravery,” Ryburn-Phengsavath said in the post.

A man died at Takapuna Beach yesterday despite the best efforts of beachgoers and emergency crews. Photo / Sylvie Whinray

Ryburn-Phengsavath said the “incredibly fast” first responders took over and did everything they could.

She said the teenager, visibly shaken, walked up the beach ramp towards her with tears in her eyes.

“I welcomed her into a hug before we sat on the stone wall together.

“We spoke quietly and I led her through a trauma release exercise (to help get her back into her parasympathetic system) to help calm her, and waited with her till her mother arrived.”

Defibrillator concerns

Ryburn-Phengsavath said she saw emergency services rushing back and forth, and saw someone she understood to be a member of the public with a small handheld device.

“As far as the AED is concerned, I thought, surely there should be one [a defibrillator] here somewhere.

“I saw a man with a really small handheld one coming down, and then another one tearing down,” she said.

The ambulance had already arrived at that point and they had all the appropriate equipment with them.

Ryburn-Phengsavath said emergency responders are incredible, selfless people who should be cared for more by the Government and society.

Police said the man’s death would be referred to the coroner.

Hato Hone St John responded to the incident with one ambulance, one rapid response unit and two operations managers.

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