A 5-year-old boy was carried to safety by a lifeguard at St Clair Beach on Saturday, after being caught by the incoming tide.
St Clair Surf Life Saving Club head guard Cam Burrow said a Dunedin family were trapped by the rising tide on the ‘‘north side of the piles'' on the beach.
The family were trying to get to the Esplanade and the high tide seas were ‘‘sweeping'' them towards rocks, he said.
He and lifeguards Seb Prescott and Hamish Trembath were off-duty but were alerted after a 5-year-old boy was knocked off his feet by a wave.
The lifeguards helped the family across the rocks to the Esplanade as Mr Burrow carried the boy across the beach about 7pm.
People should avoid the area on an incoming tide, Mr Burrow said.
‘‘If you are going for a walk along St Clair Beach, be aware of the tides. It is unsafe to walk across two or three hours before high tide ''
Earlier in the day, signs were erected by the Dunedin City Council at points of access to the beach to warn users of the dangers.
Dunedin City Council project and asset-management team leader Hamish Black said the signs contained both symbols and wording referring to slippery access steps, unstable rocks, unexpected large waves and a recommendation people supervise children.
There were several close calls at the beach last week when people escaped serious injury from big seas.
Early last week, lifeguards ordered surfers away from the St Clair Beach access steps during the national surfing championships, when waves pounded the beach's boulder bank and Esplanade sea wall.
