TWENTY CARRIED OUT

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 31, 6 February 1935, Page 16

TWENTY CARRIED OUT

SET AT FITZROY BEACH

An unusually strong tide which developed at Fitzroy Beach, New Flymouth, on Sunday and Monday resulted in 23 swimmers having to be assisted from the water at various times throughout the weekend. No cases were serious, although two men were distressed and needed time to recover. Fitzroy Beach comprises two stretches of sand separated by a depression. In the period between half tide and low tide, the backwash runs down the channel thus formed, causing a diagonal: set. At full tide the water tends, after, a succession of heavy breakers, to cause a set in the opposite direction. At, half' tide on Saturday afternoon, two people Were unable to reach the shore, although within their depth. They were brought to the beach by members of the junior I team of the Fitzroy Surf Club, who were practising for the surf championships. Members of another'team also assisted three other people. The set changed suddenly vat full tide, directly after 5 o'clock on Saturday afternoon, and a strong rip washed about 20 people off their feet. The senior surf, team was not present, and the significance of the signal of so many bathers was not at first realised. A youth swam ashore and raised the alarm, members of three surf clubs going to the rescue' with the reels. With the assistance of other swimmers they helped eight people ashore. Several were able to get back unaided, but the suddenness of the change rendered others powerless. One man was: saved when in a dangerous condition, and a more -elderly man : was taken' ashore almost prostrate.

Organised relays of surf club members patrolled the waters on Monday and directed swimmers to" the confines of an area marked by prominent discs. In spite of these precautions seven bathers required assistance when caught in an undertow.