Heroic effort by 20 saves boy trapped under waterfall
The efforts of 20 people saved the life of an 8-year-old boy trapped below a waterfall in Central Otago at the weekend, with his mother saying the group were “absolutely heroes.”
Mackay Blaikie was holidaying with his family in Wānaka last weekend and while out with friends he slipped into a fast-moving river at Minaret Burn, near Cattle Flat, which swept him over a waterfall where he became wedged in rock.
Mackay had been exploring the upper river at Minaret Burn with his friends, twins Ollie and Freddie Wellington, both 8, when he and Ollie became caught in a strong current and were swept over a waterfall.
Ollie and Mackay were both initially trapped but Ollie managed to free himself and made his way back to Mackay, though the strong current of the water kept pushing him back.
Freddie ran for help, coming across his father Mike Wellington already heading in their direction to check on them.
Mike reached Mackay and braced himself against a rock, holding Mackay in a rugby tackle, and cupping his hands around the boy’s nose and mouth.
Simon Byrne, a friend of Mike, was next to arrive and entered the water to assist.
“When Simon and I were with Mackay, he said to us, ‘I love my mum and dad . . . Please tell mum and dad,
When Simon and I were with Mackay, he said to us, ‘I love my mum and dad . . . Please tell mum and dad, I love them . . .’ That’s been a tough one to swallow, knowing that the wee chap was battling like that, Mike Wellington
I love them . . .’ That’s been a tough one to swallow, knowing that the wee chap was battling like that,” Mike said.
Simon Gould, along with his wife and another friend, soon arrived and were later joined by four more people who were strangers to the group, including Auckland man Ben Main, a creative director for Les Mills.
With Mike reaching exhaustion, the rest of the group took over his position, and he made his way to the shore where he was then able to give directions to the group.
Mike directed a group of 10 teenage girls, who heard screams and came to help, to the pool above the waterfall, where they formed a human chain to reduce the water flow.
With two people on each of the boy’s arms, the pressure alleviated, and Main below the water, the group managed to push Mackay free.
“Seeing that kid come out alive, that was unbelievable. I’ve never experienced something like that ever in my life,” said Mike.
Mackay’s mother, Tara Blaikie, said the group were absolute heroes for rescuing her son.
She said the courage that Mackay had shown throughout the ordeal was incredible, though he was still reluctant to talk about what happened.
“One of the things that he said to his sister after, was “when it was just me and Ollie I was really scared, but as soon as Mike arrived, I just felt calm . . . Mike was with me, and he made me feel calm, and then when everyone else started arriving, I started to feel really safe.”