Media Release January 9, 2008

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Hot sunny days and Christmas holidays have meant a busy month for Surf Life Saving Northern Region lifeguards.

Over the past four weeks (December 7, 2007 – January 7, 2008), Surf Life Saving Northern Region lifeguards performed 219 rescues and gave 205 beachgoers first aid. Sixty-nine searches were undertaken and more than 49,500 safety interventions were conducted to prevent swimmers from danger.

Lifeguards’ skills were demonstrated with some especially dramatic rescues over this time including assisting the Westpac Rescue Helicopter in rescuing a man who had fallen down rocks at Muriwai, off-duty lifeguards saving a family of four at Piha the week before Christmas, and treating a middle-aged male at Waipu Cove who had a cerebral haemorrhage and required helicopter evacuation. Lifesaving Manager, Dean Storey, says New Year’s Day was the busiest day so far this season with crowds of up to 3,500 reported at Piha and Muriwai during peak times.

"The great weather over the Christmas and New Year’s holiday saw Northern Region beaches become extremely busy.

“While the public have generally been good this season, it always pays to remind people to swim between the flags and only swim at lifeguard patrolled beaches.” Surf Life Saving Northern Region volunteer lifeguards will continue to patrol beaches from Raglan to the Far North on weekends and public holidays until April 6, 2008.

For more information on Surf Life Saving Northern Region visit: www.lifesaving.org.nz ENDS

Beaches patrolled by Surf Life Saving Northern Region are: • Far North (until January 28) • Whangarei Heads (until April 6) • Ruakaka (until April 6) • Waipu Cove (until April 6) • Mangawhai Heads (until April 6) • Omaha (until April 6)
• Orewa (until April 6) • Red Beach (until April 6) • Long Bay (until February 6) • Browns Bay (until February 6) • Mairangi Bay (until April 6) • Milford (until February 6) • Takapuna (until February 6) • Muriwai (until April 6) • Bethells (until April 6) • Nth Piha (until April 6) • Sth Piha (until April 6) • Karekare (until April 6) • Kariaotahi (until April 6) • Sunset (until April 6) • Raglan (until April 6)

ENDS

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