Description

CLUB HISTORY
The Surf Life Saving Club has been a long-standing feature here in Nelson since the 1930Æs in fact however The Nelson Surf Life Saving Club as it is now has been in existence since 1989.
We are currently based in The Sealord Marine Rescue Centre on Wakefield Quay on the Nelson waterfront.
Nelson has always had a busy water sport lifestyle and the club has a long history of responding to the water safety needs of the region.
The club provides patrols at Tahunanui beach over the summer holiday period and public holidays.
We also operate a 24 hour 7 day a week search and rescue squad for fast response to emergencies at sea in the inshore areas of Tasman Bay where we utilise our two inflatable rescue boats (IRB) a six metre rigid inflatable boat (RIB) a quad bike for roaming beach patrols and a portable surf rescue patrol tower.
Recently we have increased our membership dramatically and now have a growing youth membership.
Over 70% of the membership are under 20 years old.
We are always interested in expanding our membership further and are proud to provide such a valuable service to the Nelson community.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACTIVITIES
Regular summer beach patrols at Tahunanui beach
- life guards on duty providing a safe patrolled swimming area.
- First aid for beach users major trauma through to minor injuries
- Rescues in the Tahunanui beach area kite surfers kayakers and other aquatic users.
- Assist police with security of the beach find lost children etc.
- Liaison with the NCC to provide a safer beach environment.

Marine Search & Rescue Services from the Sealord Marine Rescue Centre.
- The club operates three rescue vessels and performs over 70% of all the marine search & rescue callouts in the region.
- Examples of where emergencies may occur are cases where people may be lost at sea personal water craft kite surfers sea kayakers in distress river rescues such as missing trampers and cars in rivers.
- In environmental emergencies we assist and provide craft and crews for: whale strandings oil spill response fires on haulashore island and the boulder bank civil defence events such as flooding.
- We provide 24 hour on call emergency assistance in collaboration with other emergency providers such as Police Fire Ambulance and The Department of Conservation.
- The club also provides 24 hour on call rescue swimmers for the Summit Rescue Helicopter.

In the 2006/7 season 16 rescue events occurred where 29 peopleÆs lives were saved.