The flipped boat in Raglan waters before it was towed back to shore. Photo: Waikato Police
A training exercise turned into a real emergency for Kiwi lifesavers in the New Zealand surfing haven of Raglan last Sunday.
Sergeant Mark Harrison of Waikato Police Search and Rescue says the swift action of the lifesavers, and Coastguard Raglan volunteers, saved the lives of three people.
“At around 4:30pm on Sunday, December 1, (Waikato) Police were notified that a boat had flipped on the Raglan Bar,” he said
The boat, with three people onboard, was flipped, trapping one person underneath and ejecting two into the water. All three on the boat wore lifejackets, police said.
Sgt Harrison said Raglan Surf Lifesavers were just completing a training exercise nearby and quickly responded, joined by Coastguard Raglan volunteers.
The first lifesavers to arrive on an inflatable rescue boat (IRB) found two people in the whitewash and pulled them out.
One person was still trapped beneath the upturned boat, Sgt Harrison says.
A second IRB, driven by a lifesaver, arrived; the lifesaver jumped in and swam to the vessel.
According to Sgt Harrison, the boat was bobbing up and down, ensnared in plenty of fishing line.
“After cutting through line, the lifesaver reached the boat, managed to open the front hatch of the front deck on the vessel and helped pull the person out,” Sgt Harrison said.
The three occupants were taken back to shore by the lifesavers where they were met by St John’s ambulance staff and taken to hospital with minor injuries.
Coastguard Raglan towed the boat back to a wharf.
“We believe the actions of Surf Lifesaving New Zealand members saved the lives of these three people,” Sgt Harrison said.
“While it was fortunate surf lifeguards were training nearby, their quick actions in responding to the incident, and their training and abilities in such conditions clearly came into play during what was a fast-moving rescue.”
Conditions can change quickly so it’s imperative boaties check weather forecasts before heading out, ensure sufficient communications onboard, are equipped, tell someone their plans and be safe on the water, police say.
Raglan lies about a 40-minute drive (40km) west of Hamilton on New Zealand’s North Island.
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