Using Kneeboards Brothers Save Dog and Family of Four in Cyclone Ridden Kiwi Island

On February 12, New Zealand aka Kiwi Island was hit by a disastrous cyclone that sent thousands of households haywire, especially in Hawke’s Bay. The unfortunate incident has cost the city a lot of damage in addition to life loss. Approximately 40,000 homes were affected by Cyclone Gabrielle in that area. However, a little ray of hope was brought in by the Callinicos surf brothers after they set about on their mission to rescue people. 

In a recent article by Stuff.co.nz, the commendable effort of surfing athletes, John Callinicos and Andrew Callinicos was highlighted. They got on their kneeboards and decided to save lives with a full-fledged team of saviors. Let’s find out how that went. 

Callinicos to the rescue!

Stuff.co.nz reports, Hawke’s Bay was flooded after the cyclone hit and soon, the brothers got to their praise-worthy work. John, 24, and his brother, Andrew who is 28 were assisted by two other rescuers: a jet ski rider and a rescue with tools. The life-savers also helped a whole family of four and their dog in Puketapu Rd. Reportedly, they were paddling about when faint rescue calls reached their ears. The brothers found them stranded down the lane and safely ferried them to the shore. Additionally, they also rescued a man stuck in a roof cavity. They called the jet skier, who then came back with a roofer with the necessary equipment.

Read More: “I Felt My Legs Had Snapped Into 20 Pieces”: Surfing Champ Billy Kemper Felt ‘Paralyzed’ After an Easy Entry Morphed Into Horrific Exit In 2020

Moments later, they rescued a man, standing on his submerged roof. The water level had dangerously reached up to his chest. Following the rescues, the team was soon overwhelmed with several helpers on inflated boats. “We did the same sort of procedure. Paddled up on the kneeboard, assessed a clear path for the boat to come in and get the family off the roof,” John said.

He revealed that the rescued ones felt the happiest when they heard their voices. Moreover, one of them, Michelle Ford stated, “When we were sitting on the roof we could hear a jetski, but we could also hear John and Andrew on their paddleboards talking, then they came to us… they have been nothing short of fantastic, just wonderful people.” The brothers are members of the Ocean Beach Kiwi Surf Life Saving Club. Nonetheless, this isn’t the first time surfers are saving innocent lives after a catastrophe. 

The surfing lifesavers in Australia

A series of deaths by drowning in Australia had caused serious discussions at the Royal Saving Society, per a 2022 report by The Guardian. A 36-year-old male in Sydney and a teenager in Victoria were the most recent cases of such unfortunate instances. Furthermore, the society declared it will look to minimize the pitfalls in 2023. 

The surf lifesavers opened up on the rescue efforts. “After flood events have devastated communities across the state, people are flocking to our coastline to enjoy the water, which may have contributed to the higher number of rescues”, an official said. It was found that Christmas and New Year’s were the most affected days. 

Watch Now: 50-Year-Old Surfing legend Kelly Slater’s Top 5 Surfing Destinations 

The athletic prowess of surfers can be rightly utilized in times of calamity. Hence several athletes have organized themselves into groups that solely work to prevent such mishaps or save lives when needed. Hail the real-life surf heroes.