Warning inflatable toys are 'huge drowning risk' after Auckland beach rescues

Friday, 27 December 2019

Stay away from rocks and rips at the beach over summer, surf lifesavers say. (Video first published in November 2019.)

A warning about the dangers of inflatable toys at beaches has been issued after two teenagers were blown out to sea on a blow-up sheep.

Lifeguards from Surf Life Saving Northern Region were called to rescue the girls who got into trouble at Auckland's Long Bay beach on Boxing Day.

One of the girls was so exhausted trying to get back to shore, she had to be brought in on a rescue board, while the other was brought to safety in a rescue tube.

Lifeguards also had to assist four people who were being blown out to sea on an inflatable pontoon at Omaha, north Auckland.

Two teenagers nearly drowned at Long Bay on Boxing Day, after being blown out to sea on an inflatable sheep (file photo).

* Man drowns at Coromandel beach after getting caught in rip

* Water Safety New Zealand reminds adults 'you're also at risk in the water'

Surf Lifesaving urges people not to use inflatable toys at the beach, as they bring a huge risk of people being blown out to sea.

* 'Swim Reaper' shocks with water safety messages**

The incidents were just two of over-800 preventative actions reportedly undertaken by lifeguards on Boxing Day, which involved more than 3500 people.

Surf Life Saving's chief executive Matt Williams said he was 'turning up the volume' on safety messages.

'A number of incidents involved people on inflatables being blown out to sea,' he said in a statement.

'This is a constant risk particularly when offshore winds are blowing and Surf Life Saving would recommend taking great care and extra vigilance around the use of such flotation devices, which are a popular Christmas present, especially by young children who can very quickly be pushed out of their depth.'

The warning follows three drowning deaths in separate incidents over the Christmas period.

On Christmas Day, a man died after being swept off the rocks while crab-fishing at Uretiti Beach, Waipu. A second person died later that day following a snorkelling incident in Kai Iwi Lakes near Omamari.

On Boxing Day, a 60-year-old man drowned in the Coromandel after getting caught in a rip.

Williams said the unfortunate deaths should be a prompt for the public to stick to key beach safety messages.

'On Christmas Day everyone got worried about reports of sharks in the media - but that's not how people are getting into trouble,' Williams said.

Rips and currents are responsible for 80 percent of our water rescues. Inflatable toys blowing people out to sea is another.

To avoid getting into trouble in the water, people are advised to:

Swim between the flags and only swim at beaches patrolled by lifeguards
Keep young children within arms reach and watch out for rips, which can carry people away from the shore
When fishing from rocks, always wear a lifejacket.

'It's these decisions that will help keep you and your family safe these holidays,' Williams said.

Visit Safeswim for real-time safety information for Auckland beaches.