Piha Incident Response Notification 

Piha Incident Response Notification 

Surf Life Saving New Zealand (SLSNZ) can confirm that surf lifeguards from Piha Surf Life Saving Club responded to an incident at Piha earlier today (21 May 2025).  

At 10:50am, an off-duty surf lifeguard walking on the beach noticed a member of public concerned about swimmer in distress. The Piha SAR team was activated, and the initial lifeguard was soon joined by a further off-duty surf lifeguard. The lifeguards immediately responded by launching an Inflatable Rescue Boat (IRB) and rescuing a 26-year-old male patient from the water. The patient – who was losing consciousness – was then returned to the beach, where an initial assessment was performed.  

On land, Piha SAR members arrived and initially assisted surf lifeguards with the patient, and later prepared a landing space for Westpac Rescue Helicopter on the beach. Surf lifeguards handed over the patient to Westpac Rescue Helicopter at 11:15am, before the patient was transported to hospital via road.