Rescue devices aid the community
After the drowning of Wairongoa Renata at Cable Bay in January, a woman who knew him felt spurred on to organise flotation devices located throughout Doubtless Bay.
Mangonui resident Pat Millar says experts suggest if you attempt a water rescue to take a flotation device. ‘‘We don’t want to lose another life for want of a flotation device,’’ Millar says. Renata, 54, drowned on January 2 while trying to save his 11-yearold child from a rip.
Operation Flotation for the Doubless Bay area was launched with the placement of a fishing float in a tree off Cable Bay on January 12. Millar hopes to get rescue tubes at a further two sites in Cable Bay, two at Taipa and three at Cooper’s Beach.
‘‘Community involvement is really important, unless people know it’s there, everyone contributes to it and looking after it, it will mean more to us.’’
Taupo Bay residents involved with organising ‘rescue boxes’, have shared their knowledge with the Doubtless Bay group. Mary Goodbehere says a couple of years ago around forty people needed rescuing in separate incidents.
One group of six people were carried out to sea and required rescuing by around five people, while in another incident a young boy needed to go to hospital after he was caught in a rip.
‘‘These sorts of things happen so quickly,’’ Goodbehere says.
She says that busy summer was a catalyst for action. The boxes replaced existing ones which had begun to rot away while fundraising resulted in a shed which contains a defibrillator, medical kit and other items. Signage warning beachgoers of rips are also placed on the shore.
Water Safety NZ chief executive Jonty Mills commends the actions of residents placing flo- tation devices at beaches.
‘‘Having any kind of flotation device even something like a chilly bin will greatly improve your chances of survival,’’ Mills says. His advice is tostay within your limits, learn about local conditions.
‘‘A rip can be recognised by sand coloured or rippled water running out to sea when the water on either side is generally clear. If you get caught in one - stay calm, float on your back, raise your hand and call for help. When the current subsides, swim parallel to the beach before returning to shore.’’