Four years ago Sarah Nicholson was lost to the ocean when she was caught in a powerful rip at Whiritoa Beach in the Coromandel.

For Emma Campbell the heartache of losing her sister has never ebbed with the tide, but instead of succumbing to the pain she is using it to save other families from experiencing such a loss.

In February 2011 Sarah Nicholson (pictured) was lost to the sea when she was caught in a powerful rip at Whiritoa beach in the Coromandel. Photo: Supplied

Emma's current quest is twofold:

In February, on the fourth anniversary of Sarah's drowning, she established a Give A Little page to raise funds for the Whiritoa Surf Club to use towards equipment, training and operational costs.

While her other objective is to raise awareness amongst the community to how powerful and indiscriminate the ocean can be.

On the morning of February 13, 2011, Sarah and her friends were swimming at Whiritoa Beach when they were all got caught in a powerful rip.

'Her friends got dragged out but they managed to survive,” remembers Emma. 'But Sarah got caught in a hole and couldn't get out. The lifeguards told me it was like a washing machine.”

'It was heart-breaking, my sister could swim and Sarah was a surf lifesaver herself, but it doesn't always save you when you get in that situation.

'Even the strongest swimmers can succumb to the sea at times.”

According to figures listed on Surf Life Saving NZ's website, in January this year there were a total of eight drownings at beaches throughout the country.

In 2014, the total number of beach drowning for the entire year was 11.

Emma feels the eight drownings in January was 'a horrendous amount” and people, no matter who they are, need to seriously check themselves before entering the ocean.

'When I hear of other drownings it always make me think of Sarah,” admits Emma.

'As soon as you hear of someone drowning it all comes flooding back; exactly what happened and what can be done to help others.”

Sarah was a popular science and biology teacher at Rotorua's John Paul College and was very much loved by her colleagues and students alike.

Following her passing, the college carried out its own fundraising efforts and donated money to the Whiritoa Surf Club on behalf of Sarah.

Emma says to honour the fourth anniversary of her sister's drowning she decided to establish the Give A Little page to raise awareness and money for the club.

To date the page has received a total of 17 donations and at the time of writing has raised $1,035.

Emma says the page will continue to run until October 23 – what would have been Sarah's 42nd birthday.

'Seeing as we're coming into the winter we'll let the page run through until her birthday then there will be money to give to the club for the summer rush.

'But before then, I want people to be aware and think about their strengths and weaknesses before they go into the water.

'Drownings are such senseless acts. Not a single day goes by where my family or me doesn't think about Sarah.”

To make a donation or to contact Emma visit the Give A Little Webpage at: https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/sarahswish

Emma Campbell with her sister Sarah. Photo: Supplied