Whanganui surf lifeguards pull pair from rip at Castlecliff Beach

Lucy Reid (left) and James McGregor were the first lifeguards on the scene for the rescue at Castlecliff Beach.

Whanganui surf lifeguards have pulled two people from a rip at Castlecliff Beach, their first major rescue of the season.

One person was taken to hospital in a critical condition.

Whanganui Surf Lifeguard Service (WSLS) chief search and rescue co-ordinator James Newell said his team responded around 4pm on Sunday, March 15.

Newell said a member of the public had rescued two people from a rip then got into trouble while “trying to get the third”.

“By that time, we were activated and in the water and pulled him and the other person in,” he said.

“He was unresponsive, and it was the full monty – AED [automated external defibrillator], oxygen [therapy], CPR [cardiopulmonary resuscitation], ambulance, everything.”

Lifeguards James McGregor and Lucy Reid were the first lifeguards on the scene and launched an inflatable rescue boat (IRB), with senior search and rescue co-ordinator Daniel Comp responding on a kneeboard, Newell said.

“Myself and lifeguards Ethan Bryers, Ethan Bishop and Sophie Smith were waiting on the beach to assist with the emergency response, while Nicole Comp provided peer support for the lifeguards and support to the patients’ family during the incident.”

He said early correspondence with police meant the WSLS could get to the beach in a matter of minutes.

“If we were any later, there is a high probability the patient would have been dead.

“They were pretty big guys too, with two small operators in the boat, and their adrenaline must have been pumping to pull them in there.”

Newell said there were “big seas” on Sunday, and that meant a greater chance of rips.

Patrols at Castlecliff finished for the season at the start of March.

“There were multiple agencies – us, police and ambulance – working together as one and that’s what made the whole thing work,” he said.

“Everything gelled that day.”

Lifeguard patrols at Castlecliff stopped for the season at the start of March. Photo / Erin Smith

In a statement, Hato Hone St John said it was notified at around 4pm and responded with two ambulances.

“Two patients were assessed at the scene, with one transported to Whanganui Hospital by ambulance in a critical condition.”

Newell said lifeguards began CPR before St John took over and “we worked as a team”.

“The second swimmer, who was conscious but severely exhausted, received first aid and oxygen treatment.”

Newell said the man who received CPR was airlifted from Whanganui Hospital to Wellington Hospital on Sunday night.

“We wish both patients a speedy recovery and extend our thoughts and support to the family.”

It was the first major rescue on Whanganui beaches in the 2025-26 season, Newell said.

“This is really a first critical activation we’ve had. It’s been quiet, especially considering the rest of the country has been hammered.

“We’ve been lucky. For what reason? I don’t have an answer.

“But patrols have been good. We’ve kept people out of trouble, and in not the best conditions.”

Surf Lifesaving New Zealand said there were 240 rescues across the country between October 25 and December 21 last year, up from 113 in the same period the year before.

There were 35 rescues at Whanganui beaches in 2023-24 and five in 2024-25 (up to February 5).

Mike Tweed is a multimedia journalist at the Whanganui Chronicle. Since starting in March 2020, he has dabbled in everything from sport to music. At present his focus is local government, primarily Whanganui District Council.