5.8m Naiad jet ‘Clyde Coastguard Rescue’

This vessel has a long history of service with Coastguard beginning its life as a surf rescue vessel with Sumner Lifeboat in Christchurch. It was purchased in 2006 with the generous support of the Central Lakes Trust.

We don’t do this to be rewarded

Coastguard Clyde crew is well trained in search and rescue operations.

In the twelve months to 30 June 2010 the 11 professional volunteers of Coastguard Clyde

• gave 1,141 hours of service
• spent 102 hours in search & rescue operations and 447 in training activities
• answered 4 calls for assistance from the public
• responded to 3 Police initiated search & rescue operations
• rescued 2 people

Since July 2010

Our Volunteers have

• given 46 hours of service
• spent 30 hours  in training activities

Keeping our Community Promise – Saving lives at sea

The latest Search & Rescue operations involving Coastguard Clyde are

Rower Missing on Lake Dunstan

March 2010 a rower suffered a medical incident and slipped out of his boat.  Coastguard Clyde were called to assist with the search for the man and put down a marker where he was last seen.  The Police dive team found his body the next day.

Fisherman dies in lake onslow

Coastguard Clyde were called by Police to assist in the search for Otago fisherman, Kevin Croad of Gore, on Sunday 1^st November after Mr Croad went missing in Lake Onslow.  Croad was fishing on Lake Onslow, 37km east of Roxburgh, with another adult when he entered the water to untangle fishing lines caught in the boat’s propellers, about 2pm Saturday.  The boat drifted away in the wind and by the time the other person was able to restart the motors Croad had vanished, according to Police.  Coastguard Clyde searched the Lake but were only able to locate a paddle from the boat.  They assisted the Wellington based police dive squad who recovered his body that afternoon, shortly after they started searching.  Divers found him about four metres deep in the lake near where he was last seen.  The death of Croad, who was not wearing a life jacket, had been referred to the coroner.

4Wheel Driver Injured

13 April the Coastguard volunteer crew were called to assist with the evacuation of an injured 4 wheel driver injured when the tow hook broke during a ’snatch tow’ and hit him in the abdomen.   The location was such that an ambulance was unable to reach him.  Clyde Rescue with a volunteer crew of three and two ambulance officers went up river from Alexandra and brought the injured man back to the ambulance at the boat ramp.

Overdue Canoe

6^th January called by Police to search for two men overdue on a canoe trip on the Clutha River. Searched down the river to find them safe and well, their twin outboards had failed. They were towed to the boat ramp at Alexandra.

Youth Swept Away

11^th November 2008 a teenager was swept underwater by strong currents when he and a friend were swimming in the Clutha River. Police said the area where the boys entered the river was considered extremely dangerous and urged people to check with local for safe swimming spots. Coastguard Clutha Professional Volunteers were tasked by Police to search the river and assist Police divers. 9 Coastguard members gave their time away from work and family until the unsuccessful search was suspended on 16^th November.

Volunteer with Coastguard Clyde

Saving lives creates a special camaraderie that is unique to those who have experienced it. But in typical Kiwi fashion, our crew’s prefer to remain humble about it. If you are prepared to put in the time and effort to be a Coastguard Professional Volunteer contact us by email.

We don’t do this alone

Coastguard Clyde could not operate without the continued, generous support of New Zealanders. To make a donation and join our team in saving lives at sea please use the ‘Donate Now’ button above to access our donations page and indicate Coastguard Clyde in the message section. Thank you for your support.

We acknowledge the generous support of the Central Lakes Trust in assisting with funding for the purchase of our Coastguard Rescue Vessel.

Other supporters who are assisting us with our new building to house our rescue vessel and equipment are

• NZCT
• Pub Charity

• Otago Community Trust
  

Where we come from

Coastguard Clyde was started in 2004 by a group of boating enthusiasts and members of the local Volunteer Fire Service. They all share two special attributes. They love the water and being out on it. They want to do the right thing. Saving the lives of the people in their community is the most valuable contribution they can make. After two years of hard work they obtained a Coastguard Rescue Vessel and have since then put their energy into achieving Coastguard training qualifications and providing search & rescue, and on water safety services for local groups and on local waterways.