Mr Corboy, the Otago Surf Life Saving search and rescue co-ordinator, yesterday strongly endorsed a warning by Surf Life Saving New Zealand for people to be vigilant about using any inflatable vessels or pool toys this summer.
That organisation was joined by Maritime New Zealand and the Kiwi Association of Sea Kayakers (KASK) in warning people to stop and think before they used inflatable kayaks, dinghies and rafts on the water.
Four teenagers in two inflatable kayaks and an inflatable raft experienced the risks of being swept out to sea first hand on November 9 when they had a lucky escape after being blown 3.5km off a Gisborne beach.
Off-duty volunteer Surf Lifeguards from the Dawson Building Midway Surf Lifesaving Club used an inflatable rescue boat to rescue the group.
Raising awareness about inflatable vessels is part of a Surf Life Saving New Zealand safety campaign called Ready. Set. Summer., which highlights safety messages about some beach recreational activities which result in the rescues by volunteer lifeguards.
"It’s a scary distance," Mr Corboy said about the distance the teenagers had been swept out to sea.
People could one moment be "having a nice day at the beach" and the next moment be swept away, and they might not be spotted from shore, particularly if they were not in an area patrolled by surf lifeguards.
Mr Corboy discouraged the use of such inflatable craft at Dunedin beaches, for safety reasons.
Otago surf lifeguards had over the years also been "pretty proactive that it’s not the right thing to take out on the water".
"Don’t take them to the beach," he warned.
"It’s all good until it goes wrong."
He had not yet encountered inflatable kayaks on Dunedin beaches, but small inflatable mattresses had continued to cause some problems in recent years.
However, one of the biggest problems had been with inflatable "pool toys" including inflatable unicorns that were designed for swimming pool use, and not for taking to the beach.
He understood there had been a rescue at a Dunedin beach last summer involving a person who got into trouble on a pool toy. Such toys come in a variety of animal shapes and sizes.
People were easily lulled into a "false sense of security" and did not realise how quickly wind and currents could carry them away.
"It doesn’t take long to be swept out to sea," Mr Corboy added.
