New Year Honours: Kaiwaka fire chief John Bowmar s community service rewarded
30 Dec, 2020 04:00 PM
3 minutes to read
Kaiwaka fire chief John Bowmar will receive a QSM for services to Fire and Emergency New Zealand and the community.
Photo / John Stone
Imran Ali is a reporter for the Northern Advocateimran.ali@nzme.co.nznorthernadvocat
John Bowmar may be the first firefighter from Kaiwaka to receive the Queen s Service Medal but like many other recipients elsewhere over the years, the accolade belongs to the team in his brigade.
The 72-year-old omnipresence, not just in Kaiwaka but neighbouring towns, has led to great improvements in the areas of firefighting, road safety, and civil defence over many decades.
Northland man rescued from dangerous Whangārei Heads beach
15 Dec, 2020 04:24 AM
7 minutes to read
Aaron Marais credits his partner Felicity Bidgood for saving his life when she spotted him unconscious in rough surf at Ocean Beach. Photo / Tania Whyte
Multimedia journalist for the Northern Advocatekarina.cooper@nzme.co.nz
A Whangārei woman says she will never forget her partner s whispered first words, I love you , after she pulled his lifeless body from the surf at a notoriously dangerous Northland beach. A relaxing family outing turned into a terrifying ordeal when Felicity Bidgood, 32, dragged an unconscious Aaron Marais, 27, from rough waters at Ocean Beach in Whangārei Heads last Thursday.
Watch: Dramatic Tamaterau water rescue, man fighting for his life
14 Dec, 2020 05:15 AM
4 minutes to read
A man is rushed to a helicopter on a Tamaterau beach before being taken to Whangārei Hospital. Video / Adam Pearse
A man is rushed to a helicopter on a Tamaterau beach before being taken to Whangārei Hospital. Video / Adam Pearse
Northern Advocate
When waterfront Tamaterau residents saw a helicopter hovering over the water on Monday afternoon, not many realised a life was hanging in the balance.
When a person was then lowered into the water of Whangārei Harbour from the chopper, many thought it was a training exercise - until the person resurfaced, carrying a limp body in their arms.
The Northland Rescue Helicopter and Fire and Emergency New Zealand arrived about 20 minutes later, Swannix said. The man regained consciousness soon after. He was taken to a waiting ambulance, then driven to hospital to check for water inhalation, Swannix said. The man had gone into the water for a swim, but the waves had been deceptively strong, Swannix said. “He was being pushed over by the waves and then his partner noticed he was floating in the water face down. “This is the seventh major incident we’ve had here since October, resulting in eight lives being saved. Ocean Beach has been deceptively dangerous recently and I think it’s catching people out.”