Grandpa drowns holding child up

A grandfather has died trying to save his two young grandchildren, holding his grandson above his head as he slipped beneath the waves.

Witnesses say 55-year-old Jackie Maynard Wiki, of Te Kao, in the Far North, dived into the sea after seeing the two children caught in a rip at Ninety Mile Beach. He saved the children but could not swim back to shore.

He was one of three people to die in the water yesterday. A 38-year-old woman drowned when her horse fell in a swollen Wairarapa river and a 53-year-old Feilding man collapsed in Lake Taupo.

Three people have drowned since Christmas Eve. Last year, 11 people died during the holidays, one of the worst on record.

This year's drowning toll now stands at 99, one more than 2008.

Heta Conrad, 58, was at the Northland beach yesterday and said that as soon as Mr Wiki saw his grandchildren were in trouble, he was in the water.

"He just bolted straight in after them, he didn't hesitate – he just wanted to get in there and help the grandchildren."

The children would have died if Mr Wiki had not acted as quickly as he did, Mr Conrad said. "It's a really great thing that he has done."

Heroism could not save a woman who died after her horse fell while crossing the swollen Ruamahanga River near Matapihi Rd, five kilometres north of Masterton, about 2pm. Police said it appeared her horse fell and the woman was swept downstream.

Her riding companion tried desperately to save her, and another friend leapt into the river and pulled her to an island, where he began CPR.

Two police officers also swam to the island, but the woman could not be resuscitated.

Masterton Acting Sergeant Tony Matheson said the woman's friends did everything they could.

"There was a pretty brave attempt by him to get into the river and drag her to an island. Unfortunately it may have been too late."

The woman was flown to Masterton Hospital by Westpac rescue helicopter. Helicopter crewman Dave Greenberg said the river had been running fast. Mr Matheson said the river was swollen and dirty from recent heavy rain in the Tararua Range.

A 52-year-old Feilding farmer on holiday with his family died on Lake Taupo about 2pm. Gerard Kerrigan was teaching his son to windsurf when he fell backwards into the water.

He was at the southeastern end of the main lakefront beach, about 10 to 15 metres from shore.

His wife, Stacey Wilson, told The Dominion Post that her husband was fit and active. She and the couple's four children were nearby when he died.

Taupo St John manager Graeme Harvey said passers-by and family members helped Mr Kerrigan to shore and administered CPR until emergency services arrived.

The cause of death will be known once an autopsy is completed. Taupo kaumatua delivered a karakia at the beach late yesterday.

Two near misses also kept rescue services busy on Lake Taupo. A kayaker who dislocated his shoulder had to be rescued from a rock in the middle of rapids on the Waikato River.

Later in the afternoon, a young man was found clinging to his upturned 10-foot yacht near Acacia Bay on Lake Taupo. He was rescued by the coastguard and his yacht was towed ashore.

Water Safety NZ general manager Matt Claridge said people needed to be careful around water during the busy holiday season.

"There is a look of predictability about it, in terms of drownings," he said.

"There are just so many people around the water. We'd encourage people to stay within their limits, within their skill sets."

- © Fairfax NZ News