Yesterday, police and surf life-saving clubs were called to two incidents in the city.
About 3pm, police were called to St Kilda Beach where two women in their 20s were caught in a rip about 300m off shore.
St Kilda Surf Life Saving Club member Duncan New said two surfers helped the women by paddling them closer to shore.
He and fellow club member Danyon Noakes swam out to aid in the rescue.
"I ran downstairs and grabbed a rescue board. I put one on my board and another was just about in with the other surfer."
The woman were "a bit shocked and a bit panicked", Mr New said.
Club members put thermal blankets around them and St John took the two to Dunedin Hospital to get checked.
Club secretary Rachel Oakley said people often made the mistake of paddling in the calm patch of surf.
"That’s where the rip is. It’s safer to go for the breaking waves."
A police spokeswoman said at the same time officers were called to Ravensbourne, where two kite surfers seemed to have drifted with the wind and become stuck out in the water.
Otago life-saving search and rescue co-ordinator Max Corboy said when they reached one of them he was able to get wind again and did not need help.
Despite the men not requiring rescue, it was good a member of the public called it in, just in case, he said.
