Four swimmers rescued from a rip at Whangamata by off-duty lifeguards has won Surf Life Saving New Zealand Eastern Region's rescue of the month for February.

Off-duty lifeguards Max Jones, Nic Hamlin and Connor Gibson were alerted by a member of the public about the family of four who were struggling in a rip at about 4.30pm on February 8.

The Trust Waikato Whangamata Surf Life Saving Club has won Surf life Saving New Zealand Eastern Region's rescue of the month for February. Photo: File

'The lifeguards responded on rescue boards and within five minutes had reached the patients,” explains Surf Life Saving New Zealand.

'The most exhausted patient, a 15-year-old male, had taken on water and was being assisted by his cousin. He was very close to losing consciousness due to energy expenditure, and taking on water.”

Max pulled the teen onto his rescue board and waited for help from his fellow lifeguards while also keeping the other three patients afloat.

Once all of the patients had been secured on rescue boards, they were returned to shore.

The first patient was brought up the beach by Max and placed in the recovery position while Connor responded with a resuscitation kit and defibrillator.

Lifeguard Braytten Adams then called for an ambulance and the lifeguards continued to monitor the patient and administer oxygen through a mask.

The teen was then transported on a stretcher to the surf club where they met the ambulance.

'At 5pm the patient was handed over to ambulance staff that assessed and monitored the patient on scene for half an hour. He was found to be stable, was given medical advice and handed over to his caregivers.

'A fatal drowning of the teenage boy and his family was prevented that day due to the lifeguards' quick actions,” says SLSNZ

Each month, SLSNZ selects a winning rescue from each region as well as an overall national winner for the title of BP Rescue of the Month.

The Trust Waikato Whangamata Surf Life Saving Club received a $100 Gift Card from BP to help with the financial costs of keeping communities safe in the water.

For more information visit Surf Life Saving New Zealand's BP Rescue of the Month webpage.