Lifeguards nominated for NZ award

A rescue helicopter had to be brought in to get the injured man off the rocks

Two British RNLI lifeguards have been nominated for an award in New Zealand after rescuing an injured man stuck on rocks for more than six hours.

Nick Smith, 19, from Poole, Dorset, and Chris Jeffery, 28, of Gorleston, Norfolk, are currently working in the Canterbury area on the South Island.

On 9 January, they saved a man who had suffered a dislocated shoulder when he was smashed against rocks and trapped.

The pair have been nominated for the Surf Life Saving Rescue of the Year.

They were alerted to the stranded man by a runner, who had spotted the man in distress in a cove off Taylors Mistake beach near Christchurch.

Misread weather

The man had been showing friends a local fishing spot, but had misread the weather, tide and swell, and had been caught out by the tide.

As it rose he was smashed against the rocks by the waves and dislocated his shoulder.

The lifeguards launched the Inshore Rescue Boat and went to investigate.

The pair are taking part in the RNLI's International Exchange Programme

Because of the man's injuries and rough conditions the men called in a rescue helicopter and he was airlifted from the cove and taken to hospital.

Mr Smith said: "The man had been on the rocks for around six and a half hours when he was winched off, and the tide was still coming in.

"If we hadn't been alerted when we were, then I am certain the outcome could have been different."

Mike Grocott, RNLI deputy divisional lifeguard manager for Dorset and East Devon, said: "I'm extremely impressed by both Nick and Chris.

"They used skill and judgement to carefully assess the situation and showed amazing lifesaving skills in executing the rescue and working with the helicopter crew."

Mr Smith and Mr Jeffery are currently taking part in the RNLI's International Exchange Programme.