Newmarket swimming pool incident: Two men found motionless after holding their breath underwater

The two men found motionless at the bottom of a commercial pool in Newmarket held their breath. Herald understands.

The couple were resuscitated at the pool before being taken to hospital in a critical condition yesterday. This afternoon a hospital spokeswoman confirmed that the pair were still in a critical condition.

Newmarket Olympic Pool Director Peter Rust told the Herald The pool is sometimes used by stuntmen or freedivers for practice, but anyone attempting to do so is stopped by lifeguards.

He would not confirm whether the two men, who were hospitalized in critical condition, had practiced freediving.

Rust said the two men were spotted by a passerby who alerted lifeguards at the Olympic Pools & Fitness Centre around 7:30 p.m.

He said they were underwater, motionless, at the deep end of the pool.

Rust said a doctor using the facilities helped lifeguards rescue and resuscitate the couple.

“Ambulance drivers took over and were able to take both men to hospital in a conscious but critical condition.”

Rust said he was impressed by how quickly emergency responders, including ambulances, police and firefighters, arrived at the scene.

He said he had not received any update on her condition.

Rust thanked the doctor for his help and expressed his condolences to the affected families.

“The management and staff of The Olympic extend our deepest condolences to the families of both men and hope that they make a full recovery.

“Olympic personnel performed their usual lifeguard duties throughout the day and immediately prior to this incident.”

He said police completed a full investigation last night and declared the pool safe today. Herald visited the swimming pool this morning, many families and swimmers were enjoying the water.

A spokesman for Hato Hone St John said two ambulances, two emergency vehicles and an incident commander were dispatched to the scene.

“Two people were admitted to Auckland Hospital in a critical condition.”

Auckland Council’s chief swimming pool and leisure specialist Garth Dawson said the council had offered its assistance to the swimming pool centre in its investigation into the incident.

“Our thoughts are with both men and their families and we wish them a speedy recovery,” Dawson said in a statement.

“We would like to thank the Olympic staff for the way they handled the emergency and recognise that the incident must have been traumatic for staff and visitors on site. We would also like to thank the emergency services who attended this incident and the members of the public who assisted.”

The swimming pool site in Newmarket is owned by Auckland Council and leased to the Olympic Pools and Fitness Centre.

A Worksafe spokesperson also confirmed that they had been notified and were making enquiries, but had not yet launched an investigation.

Rachel Maher is an Auckland-based breaking news reporter who worked for the Herald since 2022.