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It was not the normal day’s work for lifeguards at Ōrewa Beach when police asked for their help in detaining a fleeing suspect.
The incident happened on Thursday, February 15 around 7pm. Paid lifeguards were just wrapping up patrols for the day at Ōrewa when they were alerted to the need for assistance.
A police unit in Ōrewa had earlier observed a vehicle allegedly driving in a dangerous manner along Marine Parade.
Waitematā North Area Prevention manager, Senior Sergeant Roger Small, says police signalled for the vehicle to stop, but it fled at speed.
Units quickly abandoned the pursuit while another nearby patrol unit observed the vehicle as it drove onto Ōrewa Beach.
The driver then got out of the car and ran into the water, swimming quite a distance offshore.
The police Eagle helicopter kept an eye on the man while two members of the Ōrewa Surf Lifesaving Club launched an inflatable rescue boat (IRB) at the northern end of the beach and headed for the swimmer, with two police officers onboard.
Ōrewa lifesaving support officer, Bryce Pearce, just happened to arrive at the club when a request came through for a second IRB and team.
Bryce says he and a group who were training together got another boat in the water and joined the first boat – the swimmer was, by now, around 500m offshore.
After a stand-off of around half an hour, during which police talked to the man, Bryce says the alleged offender had run out of energy, and put his arms up to be hauled into the boat where police arrested him.
Bryce says if needed, lifeguards would have taken to the water with a rescue tube to bring the man out of the water.
“It was something new for me,” Bryce says. “I’ve been involved in quite a few incidents as a lifeguard for over 39 years, and our standard operating procedures when working with police helped make it a smooth process. But this is the first time I’ve done anything quite like that.”
Police say excellent work from all involved managed to bring what was a dangerous incident to a swift and safe conclusion.
A 36-year-old man appeared in North Shore District Court the following day charged with failing to stop, driving while disqualified and reckless driving.
