Tragedy Averted – Rescuers Want Those Involved to Rethink Their Actions

By John Freer

Two young men who chose to have a late-night swim in storm ravaged sea conditions at Onemana yesterday, are being asked by rescuers to rethink their actions.

Emergency services were alerted just after 10pm with a report of people being caught in the surf at the Coromandel Peninsula beach.

As result volunteer fire staff from Onemana/Opoutere and Whangamata, along with Whangamata Prime medical staff and a Thames ambulance, raced to the scene.

Seven people had been on the beach, two elected to go into the water – they were subsequently separated. The pair were saved by being dumped back on the shoreline by the heavy waves.

They were subsequently transported by ambulance to Thames Hospital.

Local fire chief, Jo Adams, confirmed that he would not have allowed his crew members to go into the water due to the sea conditions.

Jo described to CFM a situation which could have easily gone pear-shaped, and he asked those involved to rethink their actions when reflecting on what they had experienced.

CFM has an interview with Jo – open the link below.