In April, the young girl died after a boat capsized at Taieri Mouth.
That event was the genesis for the surf survival week at St Clair Beach last week, co-organiser Dr William Allen said.
He banded together with two of the other rescuers to create a series of lectures and workshops throughout the week focused on basic water survival skills.
They wanted to create something positive from the tragedy, he said.
On Thursday, there were seminars and accounts from a variety of people who had experienced water hazards and had wisdom to share about the potential dangers of water, he said.
Practical lessons were run on Saturday, which included basic water safety, how to recognise distress, CPR and basic life support.
There were also hands-on lessons teaching safety skills such as how to retrieve someone from the water.
The organisers had expected 40 people to be given lessons throughout the day, but the classes had proven popular and people kept turning up, he said.
Lessons were run in a women’s group in the morning and a men’s group in the afternoon.
