Surf Life Saving is warning people to swim at their own risk when lifeguards were not on duty. Photo: RNZ / Kim Baker Wilson
There have been multiple water-related tragedies at Auckland's west coast beaches this week.
A 26-year-old man died while swimming at Karioitahi Beach on Monday evening.
The body of a swimmer who fell into a hole at Lake Wainamu at Bethells Beach and did not resurface, also on Monday evening, was located by a police dive squad on Tuesday.
Five lifeguards from Bethells Beach Surf Lifesaving and a police eagle helicopter were unable to find the 23-year-old man on Monday.
Surf Life Saving northern region operations manager James Lea said their lifeguards responded to four separate incidents within close proximity on Monday night, including the two deaths.
One person required hospitalisation after lifeguards pulled them out of the water shortly after patrols finished for the day and gear was being packed up. Beachgoers were being told it was no longer safe to swim.
There was also a mass rescue of four people at Piha at 7:51pm.
Lea said the recent hot weather was attracting more people to beaches after lifeguard patrols closed, usually at about 7pm.
He said last night's conditions, with low tide when rips were stronger, happened around sunset and created a "perfect storm" in terms of risk to swimmers.
"I think it's the excitement around summer, the focus is let's just get in the water and cool down.
"My advice is just take a pause. I'm competent in the water, but when I'm going swimming or surfing, I take a pause and look at the environment I'm going into first. Is it matching my level of competence? Am I going to be safe?"
He said with similar conditions expected tonight, they were trying to increase the number of lifeguards on duty.
"We're just trying to pump up our resources a bit on our beaches tonight. But a lot of that is our relying on volunteers."
He said those who decided to swim when lifeguards were not on duty did so at their own risk.
"Our lifeguards aren't always there. If you're not familiar with the environment, I'd strongly recommend you swim at the beach between the flags when lifeguards are on."
He said if people spotted someone in trouble and lifeguards were not around, the best thing to do was to call the police and provide them with their exact position, to get someone there as soon as possible.
He said the death at Lake Wainamu was an unfortunate reminder that people can drown in any body of water.
"By the sounds of it, the person wasn't confident in the water or a competent swimmer, or able to float. With Lake Wainamu, it drops very quickly. So as soon as they are out of their depth and if they're unable to float, they will go under in a matter of seconds."
Surf Life Saving offered sympathies to the whanau impacted by Monday's incidents.
Karioitahi Beach Incident
Counties Manukau South Area Commander Police Inspector Jared Pirret said at about 7:10pm, police were told there were two men struggling to return to shore.
Lifeguards were able to return one of the men to shore safely.
A Police Eagle Helicopter located the second man in the water.
"Sadly, the man was unable to be revived back on shore and has died," Inspector Pirret said.
"Our thoughts are with the man's friends and families for their loss, as well as those responders who did their utmost to bring about a good outcome last night."
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