Police have issued a stark warning to Kiwis going rock fishing after a person had to be rescued by a helicopter off Auckland's Bethells Beach in the early hours of Friday morning.
A Police Search and Rescue team, including the Eagle helicopter and Auckland Westpac Rescue Helicopter, were deployed to Bethells Beach on Auckland's West Coast just before 2am on February 16 after reports of a "person stuck on the rocks".
Footage from the incident shows the person stranded on a rock as waves come dangerously close to sweeping them off into the churning sea, before the man is seen being winched to safety.
Air support unit supervisor Sergeant Mark Jamieson said police "thought this incident was going to end in a fatality".
"It is incredibly lucky our staff did not have to inform a family their loved one wasn’t coming home," he said.
Senior Sergeant Garry Larsen, of the Auckland Maritime Unit, said he's seen "too many tragedies" unfolding in high-risk, dangerous locations, particularly on remote West Coast beaches.
"The combination of its remote location, slippery rocks, and unpredictable sea conditions creates a perilous environment even for the most experienced fishers," Larsen said.
Auckland Westpac Rescue Helicopter's Callan Carn-Bennett said it's important for rock fishers to "know what you are doing" and carry the correct equipment before attempting to fish from rocks in risky locations.
This includes wearing a life jacket whilst rock fishing, checking tides and swell information before heading out and never fishing in exposed areas during rough or large seas.
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