After a number of incidents at the mouth of the Waitaki River recently the Police have provided some safety guidelines.

People need to educate themselves on the river, particularly near the bar and if they are boating or fishing on the river. They should check and service any equipment regularly, including life jackets and it is imperative that they have the ability to swim / tread water and wear their life jacket. A response to recover them after being swept out to sea will typically be around 30-50 minutes. If they are in a group, keep an eye on their mates and always be alert for changes in the water flows and weather conditions. Carrying a hand held marine radio and or GPS may prove valuable if they fall into the water and get into difficulty.

If they fall in, cold shock will hit them….they should stay calm, get onto their back and float until they regain composure and then try get themselves to shore.