News
July 16, 2018
Paramedics spent 40 minutes desperately trying to save one of two people who drowned at an Auckland beach.
A man and a woman died after being swept into the sea while fishing from rocks at Muriwai Beach about 2pm, a police spokeswoman said.
Both were pulled from the water - the man was already dead but the women was initially in a critical condition, a Auckland Westpac Rescue Helicopter Trust spokesman said.
Auckland Westpac Rescue Helicopter Trust paramedic Russell Clarke said he and local road ambulance paramedics performed CPR on the critically ill person for 40 minutes but could not save them.
This was "very disappointing", he said.
"We tried our best. It's always a tragedy when two people pass away on a lovely West Coast beach."
Clarke said both the victims were believed to be aged in their mid-40s.
Local resident Mana Nightingale, 16, said he and his partner had been at the beach taking photos when they stumbled across the recovery effort.
"We were actually going to go for a walk at the other end of the beach."
They then saw a helicopter hovering over the rocks, he said.
"We headed up there out of curiousity."
The young couple saw a man being pulled into a boat, he said.
They were shocked by the incident.
"It was a bit traumatising but we're okay now."
Muriwai resident and fire brigade chief, Phelan Pirrie, said the man and woman who drowned were fishing when they were swept off the rocks.
This was "too regular" an occurrence, Pirrie said.
"I don't think people understand the risks. If you fall off the rocks, that's it."
He also said, despite the signs and warnings, at least one person slipped into the water every year.
"Muriwai beach is completely unforgiving," he said.
"Fishing in that area is not like fishing off a wharf, you need to have the correct gear on and lifejackets.
"It's really sad, I don't know what we can do."
Surf Life Saving Northern Region duty officer Paul Hardy said surf lifeguards pulled the two people from the ocean.
One was pulled from the water near Flat Rock using a rescue tube, while the second was pulled aboard a rescue boat after being spotted by the police Eagle helicopter crew, he said.
Surf conditions were moderate and slightly choppy on the day, he said.
Hardy said there were currently no surf lifeguards stationed at northern beaches so he urged people to be careful.
Lizzie Green said her family followed the emergency services as they headed to the rocks at the beach.
"We saw a helicopter circling, it just went around 20 times. We must have got here just after it happened."
St John spokeswoman Chrissy Hamilton said three ambulances and a helicopter were sent to the scene.
A Fire and Emergency spokesperson confirmed a fire crew was called at 2.11pm to assist police.
Water Safety New Zealand's chief executive Jonty Mills said west Auckland beaches could be "notorious".
"We are seeing an increase in fishing and crab fishing in that area, which means a growing risk," Mills said.
He added he didn't want to speculate on the details on the afternoon's incident but said tragedies like this brought attention to the unpredictable and unforgiving nature of the water.
Water Safety New Zealand said the last preventable drowning fatality at Muriwai was in 2016.
