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A man drowned at Glenbrook Beach south west of Auckland while trying to save his two children, in the second such tragedy of the holiday period.
Police say the children, a girl and boy, got into difficulty on Saturday afternoon and the father attempted to save them, helped by a member of the public.
The member of the public rescued the girl while the father remained with his son.
When the member of the public returned to assist the father, he noticed the father under the water, holding his son above his head.
The member of the public rescued the boy while others assisted the father to shore, police say.
CPR was commenced on the father but was unsuccessful.
In a similar incident, a man drowned at 90 Mile Beach in the Far
North while saving his two grandchildren from a rip last Tuesday
afternoon.
Jackie Maynard Wiki, 55, had been gathering seafood when he saw one
of the children being carried out by a rip.
Police said Wiki was under the water holding his grandson up until
another person on the beach rescued the child.
Another person swam out and carried Wiki's granddaughter to safety
and a third person attempted to help Wiki to shore but the rip was
too strong.
Wiki was carried out by the current and later found dead near the
shore.
The incident prompted a warning by Water Safety New Zealand that
going in to help people in difficulty in the ocean is not always
the best option.
Matt Claridge of Water Safety New Zealand said it's a tough
decision.
"You see kids in strife in the water. Human nature is to react and
go in straight after them. We'd suggest look, weigh it up, check
out your skill set with the needs and the environment," he
said.
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