Wānaka Police have thanked the many people who helped rescue eight-year-old Mackay Blaikie last week when he fell from a waterfall and became lodged between rocks in a fast-moving current. 

After around 30 minutes trapped, the 20-or-so members of the public who gathered to help managed to extricate Mackay from the rocks.

Wānaka Police constable Mike Coutts thanked the people who were part of the rescue.

“Also thank you to the members of the Swift Water Rescue Team and the Coastguard,” Mike said.

The two volunteer-run organisations mobilised but Mackay was rescued before they arrived.

The location of the incident had no cell phone service which delayed their mobilisation.

Read more: ‘Miracle’ waterfall rescue could have ended differently

It was one of “quite a few recent land or water rescues”, Mike said. 

“Some have self-resolved; some have needed assistance.”

Mike said they served as a timely reminder to the public that they should be as prepared as possible for any outdoor trips. 

“Create a good plan when you’re going out,” he said. “Try to have multiple forms of communication.”

Heli-rescues at bike park 

Mike also issued a safety reminder for users of the Lismore Bike Park. 

“The bike park caters for all abilities but people have been riding beyond their abilities,” he said.

This had led to some “gnarly injuries” and at least two recent incidents where riders have had to be airlifted out to hospital. 

Mike said as far as he was aware the riders had been wearing helmets.

Waterfall Creek death referred to coroner

The death of 32-year-old man Codey Jervis has now been referred to the coroner, Mike confirmed.

His body was found in Lake Wānaka near Waterfall Creek on the morning of New Year’s Eve. 

Read more: Body located near Waterfall Creek

Missing people

Mike said there have been “quite a few incidents”, mainly with holidaymakers, where people have temporarily lost children or elderly relatives and called Wānaka Police for help.

He had personally attended four cases like this in the past 10 days.

Everyone had been found relatively quickly, but Mike encouraged people to take steps to reduce the risk of this happening in the first place.

“It does take a lot of police resources when this happens,” he said.

For children, he recommended having a safe ‘meeting spot’ identified for them to go to if they are separated from family.

He said in other cases it had been elderly people and those with dementia who had gone missing.

He recommended looking into electronically monitored locators such as WanderTrack.

Wānaka Rodeo

Mike said he was pleased the well-attended Wānaka Rodeo on January 2 had gone well and not required any police interventions.

“Police are happy with how well-run the rodeo was,” he said. 

He said no drink drivers were identified during or following the rodeo.

Other incidents 

Road safety was an issue over the busy holiday period, with “a steady flow of traffic complaints and a couple of accidents,” Mike said.

He said Wānaka Police were “still handing out infringements for speeding, cell phone use and not wearing seatbelt”.

Mike also warned that cyclists must wear helmets and if they do not they may receive a fine.

Police believe someone tried to break into a local AirBnB, Mike said.

The suspected burglary is a reminder to ensure doors and windows are locked when people are out. 

A few noise complaints in residential areas and at camping ground are reminders to be considerate of your neighbours, Mike said.

Call 111 when you need an emergency response from police, fire or ambulance.

Call 105 to report things that don’t need urgent police assistance.

Call *555 to report road incidents that are urgent but not life-threatening

To make an anonymous crime report contact Crime Stoppers.

PHOTO: Wānaka App