A moment of fun in the water becomes a frantic fight for life
Friday, 5 January 2018
The beach is a second home to many Kiwis in summer, but we come and go too casually, Miri Schroeter reports.
Trapped in a rip, a man stretches his toes down as far as he can in search of the sandy sea floor.
He reaches his neck above the waves in an attempt to breathe without swallowing water. He hopes someone will save him.
No-one expects to end an outing at the beach battling to survive, but in New Zealand waters, a moment's fun can end in a frantic fight for life.
There were 86 preventable drownings in 2017. Michael Butler thought he was going to be part of that statistic as he fought the sea near Christchurch.
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On December 8, Butler dipped into the ocean to cool off before work on a 33°C day.
The 18-year-old went swimming at Scarborough Beach with a group of workmates, but within 15 minutes Butler got sucked out by a powerful rip while trying to help a colleague already caught in its grip.
He tried to break free for half an hour, but exhaustion hit him and it became a fight just to stay afloat.
His colleague was saved quickly, but Butler continued to struggle in a life-or-death battle with the sea as other beach-goers embarked on rescue missions.
Finally, a surfer reached him, pulled him on to his board and paddled him to the shore, where Butler lost consciousness.
A month on and Butler's initial fears of re-entering the water after his near-death experience have subsided. But, as he gears up for another summer at the beach, he plans to stay mindful of his capabilities.
'I need to keep my wits about me.
'I won't go out further than where I can touch the ground.'
Keeping to his limits and encouraging his friends to do the same is a precaution he now deems necessary.
Butler was fortunate, but between January 1 and December 31, 2017, 86 people didn't have the same luck, and drowned.
This not only exceeds last year's drowning toll of 76 it has also shot past the five-year average of 77.
These deaths are what Wafer Safety NZ classes as 'preventable drownings', where people could have been saved. In 2017, there were 14 'non-preventable deaths' in the water, for reasons such as suicide.
The last confirmed drowning of 2017 happened on December 30 when Richard Hepi Tautari, 68, from Invercargill, died while snorkelling at Southland's Wakapatu Beach.
However, the new year has not started well with Palmerston North man Wairongoa Renata, 54, drowning at Cable Bay in Northland on January 2 while trying to save his 11-year-old child from a rip.
National Surf Life Saving NZ manager Allan Mundy knows all too well after 38 years patrolling beaches that fatal incidents can be avoided with more education and communication.
Figures from Surf Life Saving NZ show there were 612 rescues performed on patrolled beaches from July 2016 to June 2017.
In the same period, there were 1184 'assists' – incidents where lifeguards help people before they get into major trouble.
Although there have been no deaths on patrolled beaches this summer so far, there are simple ways to prevent getting into difficulty, Mundy says.
Listening to lifeguards, asking them for advice, swimming between the flags and sticking to populated spots are some examples, he says.
Mundy thinks of the summer period in lots of three, when it comes to keeping lifeguards busy.
The first phase is the quiet period before Christmas, where most people are still working and not yet in beach mode.
The second phase is an influx of families going on holiday. This always means more children will need rescuing, Mundy says.
The third phase sees teenagers and young adults heading to the beach with friends, which can result in a dangerous mix of drinking and swimming, he says.
Surf Life Saving NZ has been pushing the 'swim between the flags' message for years and it's been working, so this year the message is to stay off the booze before hitting the water.
'Look after your mates and don't swim and drink, because it is a recipe for disaster,' Mundy says.
Telling an intoxicated person not to swim can be difficult for lifeguards, as people can behave aggressively.
But, sometimes, they need to be told.
'It can go pear-shaped very quickly. It's a calculated decision to intervene.'
Children are also a cause for concern, as helping boogie boarders is the most common incident lifeguards come across daily, Mundy says.
When children panic, they often throw the board away and then struggle to fend for themselves, he says.
Mundy advises parents to make sure children wear flippers so it's easier to get out of a small rip in a difficult situation.
Flippers are safer and more fun, Mundy says.
SIMPLE SAFETY TIPS:
* Ask locals where safe swim spots are.
* Watch for other people close by. If they are knee deep and you're waist deep, you could be near a rip.
* A calm spot between the waves can indicate a rip.
* Swim in a populated area.
* Swim between the flags and, if that's not possible, make sure you can see the flags. If you can see the flags, lifeguards can see you.
* If you're caught in a rip, lie on your back, raise a hand and wait for help. Do not swim against the current.
Additional beach advice and information is available online. Check out Surf Lifesaving NZ's Findabeach.co.nz that lists if a beach is patrolled, along with details about local swimming safe spots and hazards, beach facilities and activities.
The sites of about 150 beaches patrolled by New Zealand Surf Life Saving clubs are also available on Google Maps https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?ll=-40.32717636141839%2C172.94968648437498&hl=en&t=h&msa=0&ie=UTF8&mid=113AIn3_oTG0DipVD0Xv6LeIYe8s&z=6