A 5 rescue weekend!
It’s been another intense and emotional weekend for our Nelson Surf Life Saving Search and Rescue Squad, with more than five separate rescue incidents in strong, unpredictable winds.
One rescue saw a kite surfer swept far out off shore, he was completely exhausted by the time our crew reached him and incredibly relieved.
Another call involved a couple and their dog stranded on a yacht with a broken mast, after their small tender boat got swept away with the wind. The team managed to transfer the couple and their dog onto the IRBs and safely return them back to shore.
While returning to base, after dropping them back to shore, a third call came in that a surf ski had capsized with the owner unable get back in. The crew swiftly made their way up the harbour and picked him out of the water returning him also safely back to shore with his craft.
But the rescue that truly stayed with us happened near the Boulder Bank, on our SARs crews return from an interagency training exercise with the Nelson Rescue Helicopter.
Our team spotted a small boat in serious difficulty. On board was a young family of four - including two preschoolers. Despite wearing lifejackets, their boat was being swamped by waves and taking on water. The children were soaked, shaking, and already showing signs of hypothermia.
Our crew moved quickly, escorting the family safely back through the cut. Seeing those two tiny children wrapped in warm blankets in the arms of our volunteers was a powerful reminder of why we do this. This situation could have ended very differently.
As the seasons change, this is an important reminder to everyone heading out on the water:
• Always check the conditions and forecast before you leave. Wind and sea state can change rapidly, and what begins as a calm trip can quickly become dangerous.
• If in doubt, dont go out.
• Dress and prepare for the cold. Hypothermia can develop fast, especially in children, and the right clothing and equipment can save lives.
Later that afternoon the team were back out on the water again, tasked by police to a kitesurfer struggling and getting swept out the Cut to sea. An IRB was launched, and upon arrival to the patient, another vessel had just managed to pick them up. Confirming that was the patient, our team was able to stand down and return to base.
Our Search and Rescue Squad are all volunteers. They drop everything - their families, their work, their own plans - to respond when our community needs them most. Their skill, commitment, and calm under pressure make the difference between tragedy and safe return.
To our incredible SAR volunteers: thank you. Your mahi, your countless hours of training, and your unwavering dedication protect lives every single week. Our community is safer because of you.