Teen Swimmers Rescued: Lifesavers’ Frenzy New Year on Auckland Beaches

Two girls, one barely conscious, were rescued from the sea within minutes of each other on two of Auckland’s popular west coast beaches as tourists flocked to surf yesterday.

In a busy start to the New Year, rescuers from the northern region were asked to rescue eight people as large crowds chilled on 22 patrolled beaches in the upper part of the North Island.

The manager of the region, Ari Peach, said that rescuers carried out almost 800 preventive actions during the day involving 4,300 bathers and 36 first aid actions, including nine major interventions.

But the most serious incidents included two girls who were flown to hospital after nearly separate drownings three minutes apart in Piha and Muriwai.

Peach said that in Muriwai a 14-year-old girl was thrown by a wave, while the 13-year-old girl in Piha swallowed a large amount of water and was barely conscious.

Both teens were flown to the hospital in the Westpac rescue helicopter, he said.

Later that day, dangerous surf conditions at Piha caused the flags to be lowered, while lifeguards from Muriwai stayed an hour after 7 p.m. after the patrol officially ended to keep an eye on the many swimmers still standing. they were on the beach.

Meanwhile, on the east coast of Omaha, Takapuna, Orewa, Wenderholm and Mangawhai Heads, wayward jet skis were giving a headache, operating at high speeds close to swimmers, Peach said.

The Maritime Police Unit was informed.

Mangawhai guards also came to the aid of a man who sustained injuries to his neck and head after falling through the dunes.