Surf lifeguards are struggling in the Coromandel with Hot Water Beach soaking up resources as beachgoers have “no swimming skills and very little English”.

Surf Life Saving NZ eastern region lifesaving manager Chaz Gibbons‑Campbell said up to 2000 people are hitting the beach each day.

“They have been particularly busy at Hot Water Beach with people dropping off the sand bank, people with no swimming ability and very little English, they are not able to read the safety signs or understand lifeguards,” Gibbons‑Campbell said.

He said thousands of tourists, and day-trippers from Auckland and Hamilton were converging on Hot Water Beach each day, leaving lifeguards frustrated as they had to constantly repeat safety messages.

“At Whiritoa, for example, the same families are on the beach every day, but at Hot Water Beach it is new people every day so lifeguards have to repeat themselves.”

Gibbons‑Campbell described the situation as a “tricky one”.

“It is a tricky one, we have to remind people of safety, my suggestion is talk to the lifeguards.”

While conditions along the eastern Coromandel had been largely flat over the peak holiday season, offshore winds, particularly in the afternoons, had presented challenges, he said.

“There have been a lot of offshore winds which has kept us busy, especially in the afternoons when the least competent people are in the water.”

Surf Life Saving NZ eastern region lifesaving manager Chaz Gibbons‑Campbell, right, with Whiritoa Lifeguard Service lifeguard Richard Wood.

Six teenagers found themselves in an awkward spot just off the coast of Whangamatā late in the afternoon on December 31.

Gibbons‑Campbell said they had two paddle boards with three people on each board, and one paddle on each board.

They had to be assisted by an inflatable rescue boat (IRB) after winds blew them offshore.

“They were in Whangamatā on a day trip and had never been there before. They were wanting to go and check out the offshore islands.

“They were heading out to see and the winds blew them offshore, they were wearing lifejackets but there were too many people on each craft.”

Whangamatā Beach attracts big crowds during the peak holiday season. Photo / Christine Cornege

In a separate incident on January 3, also at Whangamatā, two teenagers were assisted by members of the public as they had fallen out of their kayaks and also drifted offshore.

Neither of them were wearing lifejackets, Gibbons‑Campbell said.

“People are just not thinking or taking extra steps to prepare for their activities.”

Across the Coromandel there had been 37 people assisted by surf lifeguards between December 23 and January 5, he said.

Another 13 had been rescued which meant they would have died without assistance.

Gibbons‑Campbell said there had been 14 major first aid incidents reported.

While Hot Water Beach was a key concern, Gibbons‑Campbell said Whangamatā and Pāuanui were also keeping lifeguards busy.

“The public have been pretty receptive, there has been no disorder reported.

“The first priority is keeping yourself and others safe, being prepared, knowing your limits, and if you are not a swimmer, maybe choosing another activity.

“If you can float it increases your chances of survival by 80%.”

- Waikato Herald