A complex rescue of two fishermen wrapped up a busy weekend for surf lifeguards, who completed 26 rescues over the weekend.

Two fishermen are lucky to be alive thanks to Bethells Beach surf lifeguards and SAR squad.

While the resuce didn't happen locally, it is being used a timely reminder for anyone planning on rock fishing in the area.

In a difficult rescue, surf lifeguards extracted them from the blowhole at O’Neills Bay, just north of Bethells, after one was swept off the rocks just before 7.30pm on Saturday.

Two other fishermen somehow got the injured and unconscious man back onto the rocks and one walked back to the beach to alert surf lifeguards.

With two metre-plus swells making it impossible to get an inflatable rescue boat close enough, an incoming tide and fast-reducing light, rescue swimmers assisted by a jetski swam the two fishermen from the rocks to the safety of the IRB.

Surf lifeguards rescued two fishermen on Saturday night, February 8th 2025. Photo / supplied

The Westpac Rescue helicopter hovered above for the second rescue watching sea conditions and assisted with the timing of jetski pick-up.

The two men were brought back to shore and handed over to ambulance for further assessment and transport.

Northern Region operations manager James Lea, who was involved in the rescue, said the rescue was more complex due to the rough and heavy surf conditions and the fact the fishermen weren’t wearing lifejackets.

“This is one of the most dangerous spots in New Zealand and given the time of day, conditions and the fact they weren’t wearing lifejackets this very well could have been a tragedy.”

Surf lifeguards rescued two fishermen on Saturday night, February 8th 2025. Photo / supplied

Thankfully, the Bethells Evening Summer Trial which sees senior surf lifeguards observing the beach, meant surf lifeguards able to respond quickly enough to save the men.

“I’d like to thank the surf lifeguards involved who braved rough conditions and falling light to bring these men back to their families,” said Lea.

Meanwhile, on Saturday Muriwai surf lifeguards cared for a patient with deep cut to her thigh from a surfboard fin.

Pukehina surf lifeguards provided CPR for a patient at Newdicks Beach. Levin-Waitarere surf lifeguards cared for a patient with an injured shoulder and Spencer Park surf lifeguards cared for a person with large gash to her leg after colliding with a log in the surf.

On Sunday Kariaotahi surf lifeguards drove four kilometres along the beach to rescue a group of swimmers.