Dad, kids rescued after caught in rip

A father and three young children had a lucky escape yesterday after being caught in a rip at a North Taranaki beach.

Lindsay Patu didn’t hesitate to grab a boogie-board and dive into the water when his daughter and two relatives were being dragged out to sea yesterday afternoon.

The drama began about 2.25pm at Onaero Beach, north of New Plymouth, while Patu was watching his 9-year-old girl and two of her cousins in the water.

Police, St John ambulance staff, lifeguards in inflatable rescue boats (IRBs) and the Taranaki rescue helicopter were all alerted of the trouble as it unfolded.

Meanwhile members of the public grabbed kayaks, a paddle-board and a small inflatable boat to help the group as they were being dragged north along the coastline.

‘‘The kids were playing around catching waves, then they were going for bigger waves but the next minute they were being pulled out to sea,’’ 43-year-old Patu, from Stratford, said.

‘‘I just seen them getting washed out.’’

Patu quickly grabbed a boogieboard of his own and jumped into the surf to go to the aid of the children.

He was able to get one of the group to safety but a strong current stopped him from getting the others back to shore.

‘‘I swam back out to the rest and we just stuck together on the boogie-board,’’ Patu said.

‘‘The current was just too strong so I just said to try and float and go with it.’’

A kayaker arrived and helped keep the group afloat until they were able to get back to shore.

Patu said it was a relief to get to dry land and was grateful for the kayaker’s help.

‘‘If he wasn’t there it could have been bad.

‘‘We’re a bit exhausted though but we are still alive.’’

Annie Patu, 10, said she was proud of her uncle.

All four were treated by St John paramedics.

Constable Wade Callander said the rescue was a timely reminder for people to be aware of what was happening when they were around water.

‘‘While everyone’s on holiday you need to keep in the forefront of your mind that the sea can be a

‘‘The current was just too strong so I just said to try and float and go with it.’’ Lindsay Patu, dad

dangerous place,’’ Callander said.

‘‘If someone is in trouble people need to alert the police as soon as possible. Time is of the essence when dealing with situations like this.’’

Callander said it was a great result everyone had got back to shore safely.

Brad Birss, manager of the Onaero Bay Holiday Park, said he had been in the office when someone came in saying a group of kids had been caught in a rip.

‘‘The whole camp all of a sudden just went crazy and people were running around,’’ Birss said.

He grabbed some lifejackets but by the time he got down to the beach one of his friends had paddled a kayak out to the group and was helping them to stay afloat.

‘‘All’s well that ends well.’’

SIMON O’CONNOR/STUFF Lindsay Patu helped to rescue his daughter and two relatives at Onaero Beach yesterday. He is seen with his niece Annie Patu, 10, left, and nephews Chance Taikato, 9, and Mythias Taikato, 6, afterwards. The three children in the picture were not involved in the rescue, but Annie says she is proud of her uncle. At left the Taranaki Community Rescue Helicopter leaves the scene following the rescue.