My Account
At Coastguard’s busiest time of year, Hibiscus volunteer Sarah Ivinson has shared a very personal story about why she joined the service, in the hope of preventing deaths at sea:
“I’ll never forget how my sister looked when they pulled her from the water. She had her swimsuit on, and her red hair was sparkling in the sun, but her skin was pale, and her tiny body was limp.
Losing Nicola left a hole in my heart – and more than 30 years later, I still struggle to put into words the pain and grief I feel. But I want to share my story in the hope that no one else will go through what I have.
My sister’s death is what led me to become a volunteer with Coastguard Hibiscus. Because I’ve been there. I’ve seen someone that I love drown. And if I can save just one person’s life, then it’s my purpose.
I was six years old, and Nicola had just turned seven when my family went for a summer camping trip. It was a hot day, and we were excited to go for a swim. While my parents were busy unpacking back at the cabin, my little brother joined Nicola and I as we headed off for a swim.
One minute, we were in the water having fun and the next, we were like, “Where’s Nicola?”
My brother and I screamed her name and looked around frantically, but we couldn’t find her. We sprinted back to tell my parents. I still remember the look of fear on their faces.
When we got to the beach, people had gathered around Nicola’s lifeless body – we all watched for what seemed like ages as an emergency responder pushed on her chest.
Life was never the same from that day. And not just for me, but for our whole family.
As I grew older, there was always part of me that thought about joining Coastguard. I’d seen them at community events – and I thought, if I could be part of a crew, maybe I could save someone from drowning.
But I pushed it aside for years. After all, I was still traumatised by my sister’s death – every time I even stood near the water, it was like I was right back at that scene.
Earlier this year, I finally overcame my fears. Now, as a Coastguard volunteer, I’m determined to help others and save lives at sea.”
Keeping Coastguard afloat
Last Christmas Day, Coastguard responded to 15 incidents across the country, assisting nearly 50 people, sacrificing time with their own whānau, family and friends. In fact, December was the busiest month last summer, with volunteers responding to 450 incidents, rescuing 21 people from danger. To help support the work of Coastguard volunteers, donations can be made at savingalife.raisely.com
