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Nivea Sun sponsors
Rescue of the Month
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Each month Districts recognise the best local rescue of the month and enters that outstanding rescue in the NZ Rescue of the Month award. There are six awards each season and the winners of the six Rescue of the Month awards will become finalists for the BP Surf Rescue of the Year presented in September.
Click here to view policy and nomination forms
Rescue of the Month awards 2007-08 season
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Awarded to the volunteer lifeguards from Whangarei Heads for their efficient and professional patrol, successful rescue and patient management. Lifeguards involved: Teresa Hill, Jessica Robinson, Reuben Kake, Hazel Buchanan and rookie guards: Zac Whitsitt and John Michael Hicks.
During flag duty two guards spotted a surfer raise his arm in a rip running from a hole in the middle of the beach. Guards immediately entered the water to assist the struggling surfer.
Another three lifeguards who were swimming out the back of the flagged area saw the rescue taking place and immediately swum over to assist while others returned to shore to take over flag duty. Rescue equipment and vehicles were also dispatched by guards in the patrol tower
The two tube swimmers arrived at the surfer and after a quick assessment identified the surfer was going into shock. They removed the surfer’s leg rope and clipped him into a tube and towed the surfer back into the beach.
When they arrived at the beach Oxygen was applied to the patient and he was assisted into the rescue vehicle. The patient was monitored on the beach until he was considered stable and then escorted to the clubhouse for a warm shower, final assessment and release to his friends.
Although not a dramatic rescue, the success of this rescue was threefold. The threats at the beach were discussed at the start of patrol briefing and therefore all patrolling members were primed and aware of the potential areas of risk. Secondly, every member of the patrol had designated ‘buddies’ and roles should an incident occur; this was inclusive of the rookies who proved to be valuable assets. And thirdly, very little instruction was required as each individual dealt with their specified role in a proficient manner.
As one rookie guard said at the end of patrol whilst still buzzing after his involvement; “We talked about this happening today and we all did exactly what he said we should.”
Awarded to Piha and United North Piha Life Guards for their combined rescue and advanced scene management. Life Guards involved: Abbi Manley, Cali Manley, Liz Manley, Vanda Karolczak, Paul Picot, Gary Turton, Ukiah Brown, Tony Featherstone (PC), Paul Downey, Jason Anderson, Merrin O’Brien, Jess Hosking, Jonathon Webber, Geoff Calvert , Hayley Seymour, Leif Neilson, Brent Airey.
After patrol had finished for the day, lifeguards at South Piha were packing up when a member of the public alerted them to a person “being carried away in a current” through large messy surf. After a brief but intense search by lifeguards some distance from the original patrol area, the unconscious patient was returned to shore. The Westpac Rescue helicopter was called while communications were managed and additional resources (stretcher, blankets, extra oxygen and AED) where brought to the scene.
Distressed family members were looked after by additional life guards, as statements and other information was recorded.
The person was transported from the waters edge to the mid-beach helipad where ambulance officers took over the management. The patient's condition was deteriorating fast and it was hugely important that all information that was collected and recorded by the guards was handed over to the ambulance officers to ensure they had a clear picture of what had happened. As the ambulance officers continued to work on the patient lifeguards kept communications between SurfCom and the ambulance dispatch going and ensured the helipad area remained secure. In poorly lit conditions lifeguards transferred the patient to Helimed, in preparation for transfer to hospital. He remained in a serious state in Auckland City Hospital for three days before being discharged.
Throughout the incident lifeguards continually liaised with the family, provided additional help to the patient and documented the incident to ensure an accurate hand-over to the ambulance and Helimed officers. Lifeguards were highly commended on their work by both the ambulance and Helimed teams. It is without doubt that the quick-thinking response from this team and the extremely effective scene management the means for this successful patient rescue and favorable outcome.
Awarded to United North Piha and Muriwai lifeguards, namely Jesse Pidgeon, Stefan Hollier, David Butt, Matt Buswell and Ari Peach, for the outstanding skill and courage showed in unfavourable conditions.
On the morning of February 6th 2008 a report of a fisherman being washed off the rocks at Bethells Beach was received by United North Piha Lifeguards. Jesse and Stefan immediately responded with an IRB, a second IRB crewed by Matt and David was dispatched from Muriwai, and the Westpac Rescue Helicopter with Lifeguard Ari Peach on board, was also launched from Mechanics Bay.
When the IRBs arrived at the area where the patient was last seen, it was decided that the best option was to drop Ari from the helicopter into the heavy surf, and the IRBs assist him to the cave entrance. After searching for a number of minutes Ari located the patient at the rear of the cave. In almost complete darkness he hauled the patient to the mouth of the cave, but large surf and strong currents made it near impossible to exit. After numerous attempts, David joined Ari, while Matt controlled the IRB, and using a double tube tow they swam the patient to the waiting IRB. Jesse and Stefan then assisted Ari, David and the patient into the boat where he was assessed and returned to the club house. Unfortunately, he was later confirmed deceased.
The lifeguards involved in this rescue showed excellent team work and outstanding initiative in testing conditions. Unfortunately this rescue was not a successful one, but their actions gave the patient every chance of survival.
Awarded to the Surf Lifesaving Hawkes Bay Regional Guards on Marine Parade, namely Amy Vaughan, Sam Riddell and Avril Turvey, for their physically and emotionally demanding rescue.
Lifeguards were alerted that a child was in the water some distance down the beach. Two guards were sent on a quad bike to assess the situation with others remaining at the club house to monitor calls to and from the police and other Surf Club officials. While on their way down the coast line a man was spotted in the water. One guard took a tube and negotiated a large shore dump to reach him while the other continued down the beach where he swam out to a child who appeared unconscious. The child was brought to shore and CPR was conducted. Unfortunately the child was pronounced dead at the scene by ambulance officers.
Meanwhile additional lifeguards had arrived at the scene and assisted the remaining guard through dangerous conditions to return the other patient safely to shore. He was later discharged from hospital.
Although this rescue was not successful, the manner in which the guards responded to the rescue and how the situation was dealt with immediately after the traumatic event was extremely professional. All the guards and club members should be extremely proud of their actions.
Awarded to Papamoa Surf Life Saving Club, namely Nathan Smith and Liam O’Toole, for their physically demanding rescue of 5 struggling swimmers.
Nathan was out on a knee board when he was alerted to 3 young girls who had become caught it a rip. He immediately paddled over and successfully assisted them back to shore. Once back on shore they informed him that more girls were further out in the rip. He immediately returned to the water and headed through the rip where he spotted one more female who was caught in white water and in severe difficulty. Nathan got off his knee board and assisted the semi conscious girl back to shore, where he was again told there was still one person in the rip. For a 3rd time Nathan returned to the water searching for the missing girl. Thankfully Nathan spotted her and returned the unconscious and limp girl back to shore. Nathan then returned to the club house where Liam joined him to bring oxygen and other first aid equipment. The patients were then transported back to the club where they were monitored until an ambulance arrived. All patients were discharged the same day.
Both Nathan and Liam showed maturity and expertise beyond their years which in no doubt saved the lives of the five girls.
November 2007 - Raglan Lifeguards Sarah Sharp, Chase Cahalane, Sarah Amoore, Brett Richards, Catherine Arbuckle, Jennifer Snowden, Emma Snowden, Josh Searle, Lisa Oldridge and Mark Bridger plus Rookie Lifeguards Katene Connor and Isaac Newbury
At around 3.45pm with a head count of approximately 200 in the water and 500 on the beach (about an hour before low tide), Isaac Newberry in the tower noticed a swimmer on the northern flag appearing to be getting into some difficulty, also gaining the attention of Sarah Sharp on flag duty.
Brett Richards and Chase Cahalane ran down the beach, meeting Sarah at the Inflatable Rescue Boat. Chase and Sarah launched the IRB south of the flags and proceeded around to the swimmer who was being kept afloat by his friend’s boogie board. The panicked swimmer was pulled into the IRB, followed by his friend with the boogie board. After questioning the two patients, it was discovered that they had lost sight of a third friend, and after relaying this information to the tower, a second IRB was with a crew of Brett Richards and Mark Bridger (off-duty lifeguard) was dispatched.
As IRB1 was returning the original two patients to the waters edge, they spotted their friend, and this was confirmed via radio. Lisa Oldridge (off-duty lifeguard) and Katene Connor (Rookie) met the two patients at the
waters edge with the quad, and proceeded to assess their status and take their details.
IRB2 had already entered the water and had spotted two boogie boarders (patients three and four) at the back of the flags. Patient four was quite large (approximately 140kgs), making it very difficult to get him into the IRB. The patient clung onto the IRB while it negotiated a number of waves before eventually Brett and Mark were able to get patient four into the boat. On their way to assist, IRB1 noticed a further swimmer (patient five) closer to the flags who was struggling and was in obvious need of assistance. Catherine Arbuckle who had been on flags had also spotted this patient, and was en-route for a tube rescue. Chase was able to avoid other members of the public, get to the patient, negotiate three waves while the patient had a hold of the boat, pick him up, and safely remove the boat from the flagged area.
IRB1 then returned patient five to the shore at a similar time to IRB2 returning with patients three and four. Upon exiting the IRB, patient four appeared quite unsteady on his feet, but declined the offer of oxygen or assistance as suggested by Lisa Oldridge, Jennifer Snowden and Chase. The patient instead chose to make his own way up the beach. Lisa followed him on the quad, until being tasked by the tower (where Sarah Amoore and Isaac Newberry were continuing to watch the water and co-ordinate) to assist an injured lady up the hill, who had approached lifeguards but had declined first aid assistance.
Meanwhile, IRB2 had returned to the water and two surfers (patients six and seven) north of the flags and well out from shore signaled for assistance. Both were picked up and returned to shore, before IRB2 returned to pick up Catherine, and continued to survey the swimmers with the assistance of IRB1. Upon being satisfied that all swimmers were safe, the IRBs returned to shore to regroup. Soon after, Sarah A called for assistance from the tower, as patient four had presented himself to the tower. He told Sarah A he had managed to climb the stairs although had to stop a few times, as he had taken on some water before being rescued.
At this stage, Club President Anne Snowden and off-duty lifeguard Emma Snowden had also arrived at the beach to drop off some gear, and came down to the tower to assist.
Sarah S responded from the waters edge to the tower, put the 19 year old male on oxygen, and began to assess the patient. On becoming aware that the patient had taken on water, and was not in an alert state of consciousness, SurfCom was notified that an ambulance was required, and Anne took over communication with Surf Com. Sarah S continued to monitor the patient, gather medical history, treat for shock and gather other information while lifeguards regrouped and continued to monitor the water and flagged area.
By the time the ambulance arrived (after approximately 10 minutes), the patient was appearing very drowsy and cold. The ambulance officer assessed the patient, and decided the patient needed to be transported to Waikato Hospital. Because the patient was large, and would not have been able to transport himself down the narrow tower stairs, the decision was made to put him onto a spinal board to carefully transport him down. Members of the public and lifeguards were utilized to ensure this occurred safely.
All lifeguards involved reacted with professionalism and expertise. Had they not acted so effectively, this situation would have had a less desired outcome.
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