Three people had to be winched to safety at Whiritoa Beach this morning after getting caught out by the tide.

Two people were visiting the blowhole at the Waikato beach when they were caught out by the big surf and incoming tide.

The pair became stuck, with one person suffering a suspected broken leg. Emergency services were called about 8.30am, a police spokesperson said.

Police, Fire and Emergency New Zealand, Surf Life Saving New Zealand and Auckland Westpac Rescue responded to the incident.

The helicopter began winching the injured person out, and while this was under way, a member of the public went on to nearby rocks to photograph the rescue.

“Unfortunately, the photographer was washed off the rocks into the surf.

“With one person on board, the helicopter diverted to winch the photographer out of the sea,” the police spokesperson said.

The rescue team then went back to the original location and rescued the remaining person from the initial incident.

All three people were airlifted to safety and taken for medical support as required.

Jaime Lyth is a multimedia journalist for the New Zealand Herald, focusing on crime and breaking news. Lyth began working under the NZ Herald masthead in 2021 as a reporter for the Northern Advocate in Whangārei.