Dame Cindy with Jeremy Lee and Constable Bruce Whitley
CONSTABLE ANDREW CHANTERY
JEREMY LEE
CONSTABLE TED-STUART SYMES
CONSTABLE BRUCE WHITLEY
On 10 December 2021, a mother took three children (including her 5-year-old son) and their grandmother to Marine Parade beach, adjacent to the Napier Aquarium. The mother took her son down to the water while the grandmother stayed with the other children. The mother and son were paddling in the water when a large wave knocked them over. The mother managed to recover – however, her son was caught by the undertow and swept out to sea.
Jeremy Lee was walking on the beach with his partner when he heard the mother calling for help, and observed the boy in the water some distance from the beach. He immediately entered the water to attempt a rescue. However, due to the surf, the severe undertow, and his limited experience as a swimmer, he quickly found himself in danger.
Constable Whitley was off duty driving along Marine Parade when he heard the Police alert about the incident. Whitley made his way to the site of the incident, entered the water, and called out to Lee to return to the shore.
While speaking to Lee, Constable Whitley noticed a body floating around 50 metres further out to sea, which he swam to and found face down and unresponsive. Whitley then swam back to shore with the body and saw that Lee was still in the water, struggling and calling for help.
From shore, Constable Symes observed Constable Whitley entering the water and swimming out to rescue the young child. He could also see Lee struggling in the breaking surf. He immediately entered the water and swam out to Lee. Upon reaching Lee, Symes comforted him and attempted to bring him back to shore. However, after several attempts, it became clear that the surf and undertow were making this impossible, so he took Lee out beyond the backwash of the surf to await assistance.
Constable Chantrey was on duty at the Maraenui Police Station when he heard the Police alert about the incident and a call for ropes and floatation devices. He could not locate a rope at the station – however, he was able to find a long extension cord. As a competent swimmer, he entered the water holding one end of the extension cord – with the other held on shore by a Police colleague. He swam towards Constable Symes and Lee who were just beyond the breaking surf.
Constable Chantrey made several attempts in the breaking surf to pass the end of the extension cord to Lee – eventually succeeding, comforted him, and telling him to hold on. Lee was then safely pulled ashore.
Lee was taken to Hawkes Bay Hospital for over-night observation.
Given that Lee was unfamiliar with the beach and the rough surf (including the severe undertow), his immediate actions in entering the water to attempt the rescue of the young child, and his subsequent call for the child to be rescued first, were courageous.
Given the rough surf (including the severe undertow), and Lee’s physical exhaustion, the timely assistance of Constables Chantery, Symes and Whitley almost certainly saved his life