Awards tribute for dramatic rescue

Nathan Crombie | 7th July 2010

Wairarapa lifeguards have captured a Rescue of the Year award for their ''war zone'' delivery of 15 people who almost drowned together at Riversdale.
Riversdale Surf Life Saving Club members Peter Taylor, Joe Burnett, Matt Ritani, Sam Craig, Kent Newman, Wilson Finch, Jock McNaught, Aaron Smith, Anna Hemansson, Olly McKay and Hannah Logan took the award at the Hawke's Bay Surf Lifeguards awards ceremony for the dramatic rescue at the Wairarapa beach resort in January.
A strong tidal current had swept a small group of Camp Anderson campers from their feet _ two adults and 13 children aged 9 to 15 _ before a rogue wave washed them into a rip and out to sea.
Twelve lifeguards, some off-duty, scrambled to find victims in the churning surf, stumbling across the party one by one and taking them safely to shore where the lifeguards' discipline and training took over and emergency treatment was given.
The award recognised the ''outstanding teamwork and skill'' displayed by the Riversdale lifeguards involved in the ''epic securing, rescuing and administering of first aid to the 15 patients''.
Waimarama lifeguard Phil Harman took out two major awards at the Friday event _ Lifeguard of the Year and Instructor of the Year.
Westshore board and ski star Nikki Cox took home awards for the aggregate Ironwoman and the top Sporting Performance of the Year, after claiming a world board title and national titles, as well as being a key member of the national team.
Last season, Hawke's Bay Surf Lifeguards provided over 9500 hours of patrols, performed 68 rescues, administered 72 first aid procedures and conducted 13 searches.