Brighton Surf Lifesaving Club lifeguard Scott Weatherall is asking for the return of a rescue buoy which disappeared from its stand at Brighton Beach over the weekend.
"People value life in different ways ... they might not understand that it’s literally there to support and assist in saving one’s life," Mr Weatherall said.
The buoy was installed at the beach a few months ago by Surf Lifesaving NZ and partners to help the public during water rescues when surf lifeguards were not on patrol.
"If there’s a confident, capable member of the public that’s swimming or is in the vicinity, they could go and assist one that’s drowning," Mr Weatherall, who is also Surf Lifesaving’s national health and safety adviser, said.
"We know that the majority of people that drown in New Zealand are those who are attempting to rescue without rescue equipment, so effectively, it wouldn’t only potentially cost one life, it could cost two or more."
It was sad a person felt they needed the buoy more than someone in a potentially life-threatening situation, he said.
Mr Weatherall said if the buoy had been dislodged, it would be on the ground below the stand.
"It’s most likely been intentionally taken."
He urged the person who had taken the buoy to return it.
"No biggie, just call back past in the dark of night and hang it back up where it should be, and there’ll be no more questions asked."
The Brighton club was organising a replacement, but repaying costs for the missing equipment could cost about $200, Mr Weatherall said.
The buoy weighs about 2kg, measures 70cm in length, is bright yellow and has a strip of reflective tape.
