A new study gives an insight into how many people surfers save at our beaches each year.
A small sample of 418 surfers found they collectively saved 48 lives a year, suggesting thousands of rescues are carried out.
Now the national bodies of surfing and surf life saving are working together to make sure these unofficial rescuers get the best possible training.
From dawn to dusk around our varied coastlines, surfers are not only riding waves - they are saving lives.
"We hear stories almost weekly if not daily during the peak summer, weekly all the rest of the year about how surfers are there supporting Surf Life Saving New Zealand as one of the first responders or actually saving lives on those unpatrolled beaches as well," said Surfing New Zealand CEO Ben Kennings.
The sheer scale of rescues remained anecdotal until now. A New Zealand-first study has revealed the impact surfers are making on drowning prevention.
"The study has produced some amazing results," said Kennings.
Four hundred and eighteen surfers participated in the study, which found that collectively they carried out more than 1200 rescues, saving an average of 48 lives each year.
"We've got an incredibly experienced amount of surfers based all over the country that are doing rescues outside of lifeguard patrol times and areas," said AUT student researcher Jamie Mead.
"In fact 85 percent of them were outside of a lifeguard patrol time or area."
Mead said the study only represents 0.28 percent of the New Zealand surfing community, suggesting the number of rescues and lives saved is much higher.
"We've come off the back of one of the worst summers for drowning we've ever had and drowning is somewhat a silent disaster," he said.
"I think we all know it's there, it's affecting but it doesn't get the attention it deserves and I think the rescues surfers are conducting go largely unnoticed."
Unnoticed but for so many it's a reality they face on the water and highlights the importance of teaching surfers vital life-saving and rescue skills, which a course named Surfers Rescue 24/7 does.
"Knowing your limits, how to safely approach someone who is panicking so they don't pull you under and put you into a dangerous or compromised position... and then what to do and bring that person back to land and how to look after that person and call for help," said Sonia Keepa from Surf Life Saving New Zealand.
"In the last two years we have put 600 people through predominantly through the board-rider club network that we have and we are looking to expand that to reach the wider surfing community so that is our focus over the next three years," Kennings added.
To empower surfers with the skills to help get beachgoers back home safely.
