Four people are lucky to be alive after being spotted in trouble in the water by off-duty lifeguards. (File image) Photo: RNZ / Kim Baker Wilson
Four people - one semi-conscious - have been pulled from the sea after getting into serious trouble in a rip.
The three children and one adult had gone into the water on Friday evening at an unpatrolled Port Waikato beach.
Six off-duty lifeguards from the Sunset Beach Surf Lifesaving Club happened to see them and quickly went to the rescue about 7pm.
They used a rescue board and tubes to bring the swimmers to safety.
Surf Life Saving New Zealand said one of the swimmers was in a semi-conscious state when pulled from the water, but had since stabilised.
They were flown to hospital by the Westpac Rescue Helicopter.
The other three were in a "stable but shaken" condition.
The surf at the beach was between 1.2 and 2 metres and "turbulent", Surf Life Saving New Zealand said.
"These people were incredibly lucky surf lifeguards happened to be in the vicinity, outside surf lifeguard patrol hours.
"Had they not been spotted by off-duty surf lifeguards, it is likely they would have drowned."
The weekday paid lifeguard service will begin at Port Waikato beach on 23 December and runs until 14 February.
Volunteer patrols will be at the beach on the weekends.
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