![\"Lake](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/4JWKH5I_PD111225KAIIWI6_JPG.jpeg\")
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\nKai Iwi Lakes.
\nPhoto: RNZ \/ Peter de Graaf\n<\/p>\n
A family of four have been saved from drowning by a fast-thinking local man being described by police as a “hero”.<\/p>\n
The rescue happened earlier this month at Kai Iwi Lakes, north of Dargaville.<\/p>\n
Haruru man Aaron Stott was walking along the beach with his wife, family and a friend one early evening when they saw “a couple of kids in the water and noticed something wasn’t quite right”.<\/p>\n
“Then all of a sudden the mum ran in and basically just went under,” he said in a statement released by police on Thursday.<\/p>\n
He ran after them, and pulled the mother and a child into shallow water.<\/p>\n
“And then I thought, ‘Oh thank goodness, I’ve got them out and they’re okay.'”<\/p>\n
Then someone yelled out there were two more people in trouble. Stott could not see anyone, so dove under – and found two more people at the bottom of the lake.<\/p>\n
He pulled them up to the surface.<\/p>\n
“Someone grabbed the father and he was okay, but I was holding the boy who was blue and unresponsive.<\/p>\n
“I carried him up to the beach and whacked him on the back a couple of times before putting him on his side and he started breathing again.”<\/p>\n
By then a nurse had arrived on the scene and paramedics were on their way.<\/p>\n
“If I was 10 seconds later I think it would have been a really different outcome.”<\/p>\n
A Hato Hone St John ambulance crew treated family members at the scene.<\/p>\n
“He’s a hero – there’s no two ways about it,” Senior Sergeant Dave Wilkinson said. “He didn’t hesitate, he dove in and rescued four people and he deserves to be recognised for his actions.”<\/p>\n
![\"Kai](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/4MF1E97_copyright_image_255645.jpeg\")
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\nKai Iwi Lakes.
\nPhoto: Supplied \/ NZME\n<\/p>\n
Stott said he hoped sharing the experience would encourage others to stay safe around water.<\/p>\n
“Just don’t go in if you’re not experienced in the water, and if you are going on any type of craft then always wear a life jacket.”<\/p>\n
Water Safety NZ Interventions lead Esther Hone said while Stott undoubtedly saved lives, not every rescue attempt was successful.<\/p>\n
“The instinct to save others is a natural human instinct, however around water it can be very dangerous. Every year we lose New Zealanders who drown attempting to rescue others.”<\/p>\n
Hato Hone St John encouraged people to call 111 immediately in water-related emergencies, and urged people to learn first aid and CPR.<\/p>\n