19 Jan 2023

Water Safety NZ's message after Opoutere drowning

From Summer Times, 9:10 am on 19 January 2023

Yesterday's drowning at Opoutere beach in Coromandel adds to a growing death toll over the summer period.  In one of the biggest rescue efforts this summer six people were pulled from the water yesterday morning: one of them died and another was airlifted to Waikato Hospital. The search is ongoing for a seventh swimmer. It follows another drowning south of Whangamatā on Tuesday. Daniel Gerrard is CEO of Water Safety NZ.

Surf Lifesaving crews at Opoutere Beach after a group of seven people signalled for help.

Photo: RNZ / Rayssa Almeida