File photo. The rescuer says it is an important to remember how dangerous Piha can be. Photo: supplied / Surf Life Saving New Zealand
One of the off-duty lifeguards involved in a dramatic rescue at Piha says the 26 year old man is lucky to be alive.
Sam Johns said it was by chance his colleague Dave initially saw the swimmer in distress while walking on the beach about 10.50am on Wednesday.
"Dave went for a walk across the beach in the morning and he was really lucky because he said he hasn't done it in the weekday for quite a long time.
"He spotted someone who was in difficulty, and he's been a lifeguard for a long time, so he came up and notified me, who was the other lifeguard who was around," he said.
Johns said he was about to tuck into a morning coffee at the time.
"I was actually in our residence lounge at the surf club putting a cup of coffee on and I heard Dave come in and say that someone might be in difficulty.
"We went and had a look at the guy with the binoculars and noticed he was in a big bit of difficulty, so we went out with the rescue boat and picked him up.
"Brought him back to shore, and then brought him back to our first aid room, he was in a pretty bad way, and then the helicopter and the local first response came to help."
A Westpac Rescue Helicopter arrived at 11.15am and the patient was transported to hospital.
The lifeguard said the swimmer was a new visitor to New Zealand and misjudged what he described as "pretty treacherous conditions".
"There were some really strong currents and yeah, he was pretty new to the country, I think he came on holiday a couple of days ago and wasn't used to the coastline of New Zealand and how dangerous it can be so got in trouble pretty quickly and pulled out and smashed by the big waves."
"I think by the time Dave and I spotted him, it was probably four or five minutes until he was back on the beach, so it was kind of really lucky that Dave was there to spot him.
"The surf club has a really good set up with all of our equipment ready to go and rescue people. It was lucky today that there were two lifeguards, which is the minimum amount to go out and rescue people," he said.
The rescuer said it was an important reminder about how dangerous Piha could be.
"If in doubt, stay out.
"If you don't think the conditions are safe or you're not confident, it's not worth it. Just stay out and maybe wait for a calmer day or a different beach."
"If you do get in trouble, know how to float and stay calm and shout for help, and then the local search and rescue squads can come out and rescue you," Johns said.
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