Five teenagers were swept out to sea in a rip current at Port Edward yesterday evening.
Two of them were taken to hospital – one for recovery from near drowning and the other for leg injuries.
Allan Stilwell, NSRI Port Edward duty controller, said at 5.10 pm yesterday, 25 April, volunteer sea rescue duty crew were activated following reports from a local fisherman that five school pupils, aged about 13-14 were being swept out to sea by rip-currents at Grannies Pool, 1 km South of Port Edward Main Beach.
It appears that a group of young school rugby players from The Woods School in Port Edward, went to the beach to swim. Three were swept out to sea by rip-currents and a further two went into the surf to try to help them when they too got into difficulties.
“Our NSRI Port Edward volunteer sea rescue duty crew launched our sea rescue craft while NSRI Port Edward rescue swimmers responded directly to the scene,” said Stilwell.
On arrival the volunteers found a local man, had rescued one of the teenagers from the water. He had gone to the beach to help after he noticed the commotion from his residence nearby, Another pupil was rescued by one of his colleagues and these two pupils were already safe on the beach.
Two of the other pupils managed to get out of the surf without assistance. Another pupil trapped among rocks in the surf, was rescued by NSRI rescue swimmers who swam out with rescue torpedo buoys to assist. The rescued pupil had serious injuries to his leg and knee.
Two boys were transported to hospital by ambulance. One was treated for near drowning symtoms and the other for leg and knee lacerations and bruising. They are now both in stable condition.
The other three boys were uninjured and returned to school.
“Sea conditions were rough,” Stilwell says. “It is suspected that the full moon Spring Tide which peaks today (25 April) at full moon caused stronger than normal rip-currents. This may have contributed to catching the learners off guard while they waded in the surf line, possibly causing them to be swept out to sea.”
Spring Tide peaks with todays full moon, causing stronger then normal rip-currents, a higher than normal high tide and a lower than normal low tide. This Spring Tide effect on the ocean will continue until after the weekend and the public are urged to exercise caution around the coast.
(edited)
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