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Surf Lifeguards Celebrate A Safe Start To Surf Lifesaving Patrols
It was a relatively uneventful start to the surf lifesaving patrol season across the motu this Labour Weekend, with just one person rescued in the Eastern Region and no beaches being patrolled in the South Island.
Over the three-day Labour Weekend, 250 preventative actions were taken involving 3,499 people across 28 patrolled beaches.
Steve Fisher, SLSNZ CEO says it was good to get the season underway and was happy to see a low number of incidents, compared with the high number of preventative actions – meaning surf lifeguards were intervening early to ensure the safety of the public.
“Our surf lifeguards have been working hard over the winter to keep their fitness and skills up. As the weather improves and more people visit the beach we know their expertise will be in high demand.”
At Mount Maunganui a standup paddleboarder dislocated their shoulder and lifeguards provided first aid to the patient, assisting them until paramedics arrived on scene.
There was a Search and Rescue callout for the Manawatu Tararua squad after a boat capsized on the sandbar to the south of the Manawatu River Inlet. Lifeguards responded from Himatangi Beach and Levin-Waitarere Beach. Two people made their own way back to shore, reported to lifeguards at Levin-Waitarere where Police and St John personnel were also waiting and required no further assistance.
The most visited beach was Hot Water Beach, with 670 beachgoers on Sunday.
“Our volunteer surf lifeguards worked for nearly 5,000 hours over the Labour Weekend to keep swimmers and beachgoers safe. In all, it was a pleasing and safe start to the 2024-5 season,” said Steve.
Aggregated patrol statistics (national):
| No. of rescues performed | 1 |
| No. of people assisted | 0 |
| No. of major first aids | 4 |
| No. of minor first aids | 10 |
| No. of searches | 2 |
| No. of preventatives | 250 |
| No. of people involved | 3,499 |
| No. of peak head count | 7,219 |
| No. of hours worked | 4,839.5 |
Northern Region patrol summary and statistics:
Saturday: Nothing of note.
Sunday: Members of the Ruakākā Surf Lifesaving Patrol Search & Rescue squad continued a search tasking in the Whangārei Harbour, assisting Police and LandSAR with clearing Skull Creek and areas of Bream Head from Urquharts Bay to Peach Cove.
Monday: Nothing of note.
Northern Region Statistics:
| No. of rescues performed | 0 |
| No. of people assisted | 0 |
| No. of major first aids | 3 |
| No. of minor first aids | 7 |
| No. of searches | 0 |
| No. of preventatives | 166 |
| No. of people involved | 973 |
| No. of peak head count | 3,402 |
| No. of hours worked | 3,012.5 |
Eastern Region patrol summary and statistics:
Saturday: Nothing of note.
Sunday: A stand up paddleboarder dislocated their shoulder at Mt Maunganui. Surf lifeguards provided first aid to the patient, assisting them until paramedics arrived on scene.
Monday: Nothing of note.
Eastern Region Statistics:
| No. of people rescued | 1 |
| No. of people assisted | 0 |
| No. of major first aids | 1 |
| No. of minor first aids | 2 |
| No. of searches | 1 |
| No. of preventatives | 77 |
| No. of people involved | 2,487 |
| No. of peak head count | 3,535 |
| No. of hours worked | 1,727 |
Central Region patrol summary and statistics:
Saturday: Westshore (Napier) and Riversdale (Wairarapa) commenced their patrol seasons. Meanwhile, search and rescue squads from the Palmerston North Surf Lifesaving Club and Levin Waitārere Beach Surf Lifesaving Club responded to a call-out
for the Manawatū/Tararua Surf Lifesaving Search & Rescue squad after a boat capsized on the sandbar to the South of the Manawatu River Inlet. Two patients made their own way back to shore and reported to surf lifeguards, where Police and St John personnel were also waiting. The patients required no further assistance.
Sunday: Nothing of note.
Monday: Nothing of note.
Central Region Statistics:
| Rescues | 0 |
| Assists | 0 |
| Major First Aids | 0 |
| Minor First Aids | 1 |
| Searches | 1 |
| Preventatives | 7 |
| Number involved | 39 |
| Peak Head Count | 282 |
| Hours worked | 100 |
Southern Region patrol summary and statistics:
No beaches were patrolling in Southern Region this weekend.
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