Beach-goers are being urged to be smart when heading to Dunedin beaches today after a frantic day for volunteer surf life-savers yesterday.
Otago-Southland Life Guard Committee chairman Cameron Burrow said volunteer lifeguards at St Clair and St Kilda were kept busy with six rescues and more than 30 first-aid treatments for jellyfish stings.
Four of the rescues were after 9pm yesterday.
At the busiest times, more than 1000 people were at each beach, Mr Burrow said.
''It's been incredibly busy. Together, I think volunteers did about 70 hours of patrolling at St Clair alone.''
It was fortunate both clubs had volunteers available as weekday patrols of Dunedin beaches ended last week, he said.
Lifeguards were expecting another busy day today and Mr Burrow said people needed to be aware of what was happening in the water.
''People just need to be smart around the water especially around twilight time.
''It's just by chance we had lifeguards down there at 9pm and things could have been a lot worse. I know it's hot but there needs to be some common sense as well.''
In another incident, three people needed rescuing after finding themselves in trouble while swimming near Doctors Point last night.
Two men and a woman were rescued by a local man who launched a boat about 7pm.
Warrington Surf Life Saving chairman Mark Familton said surf life-savers had started to prepare for the go out when the group were rescued.
Police were called to Doctors Point at 6.40pm but arrived after the rescue.
A helicopter had been on standby but was not needed.
