Naomi Carter was 10 when she contacted the Coast Guard to help her father who was scuba diving and having trouble getting back on the family boat.
Naomi Carter at Fastlane Hamilton pool for Big Swim. Photo: Supplied.
So, it was a no brainer for her 25 years later to participate in The Big Swim to raise funds to help save more lives on the water.
Naomi is one of at least four Waipā-King Country – and 1200 across the country – swimming a million metres in July to raise $1 million for Coastguard Tautiaki Moana.
The challenge finished yesterday (Wednesday) but when The News caught up with the four swimmers including Trina White, Richard Hill and David Wybourne at the weekend, they had raised just over $4500 and swum nearly 100kms.
Big Swim time: from left Trina White (Te Awamutu), Richard Hill and David Wybourne (both Cambridge) at the Cambridge Pool. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.
They did not know each other prior to the challenge but are now talking about getting a team together for next year’s challenge.
Naomi’s effort is especially significant. Five months after a September 2017 accident in Cambridge, she had her left leg amputated below the knee.
She had been unloading her car parked on a grass verge in Bracken Street when a distracted driver hit her. She was put in the care of the trauma team at Waikato Hospital in a critical condition with multiple fractures and injuries.
The physiotherapist now lives north of Ōtorohanga with husband Richard and children Hope, 3, and Bonnie, 2.
Naomi Carter with Hope, 3, and Bonnie, 2. Photo: Supplied
Her first experience with the Coast Guard was at Ōkiwi Bay in the Marlborough Sounds on a family holiday.
“I’d learned how to contact the Coast Guard from Dad so when we felt he was getting pushed out to sea (when scuba diving), I contacted them.”
In fact, the boat was closing in on the rocks and the Coast Guard coordinated a successful rescue.
The family have a bach at Cook’s Beach now. “The Coast Guard provides such a great service and do amazing work,” said Naomi who always hated swimming before the accident.
“I was a runner. Swimming is gentle on the injuries and is very good for my mental health. I love it (swimming) now.”
Since the amputation she has faced “countless” surgeries because of what she describes as a “difficult” stump.
She has that in common with William Pike who lost his right leg after the September 2007 eruption on Mount Ruapehu when he got penned in Dome Shelter near Crater Lake.
They both want something more from their prosthetic legs – the ability to swim long distances, in Naomi’s case, and for William – to climb, run, swim and scuba dive. They compare notes regularly, she said.
Her medical background means she can do her own rehabilitation and knows if the surgeons are trying to hide something from her. But because of ongoing issues and pain she is unable to wear the prosthetic as much as she would like.
She is a regular competitor in New Zealand Ocean Swim events effortlessly swimming kilometres with the use of one leg, which even she admits takes some balancing.
Naomi Carter at an ocean swim event in Auckland. Photo: Supplied
Her sprint swimming has improved during The Big Swim – she can now complete 100m in 1m36s.
Trina, Business Development manager at Waikato Construction Management Ltd – the company owned by her and husband Gary – lives in Te Awamutu and usually racks up her metres at the Aquatic Centre.
The family regularly holiday at Whitianga where they have seen the Coast Guard in action.
“It’s a pretty essential service.”
“I know several people who have used the Coast Guard and as a lover of spending time both on and in the water, it is a great peace of mind knowing the Coast Guard is there should things go wrong,” said Naomi.
“As a country surrounded by water and full of people who love to head to the beach or lake for a long weekend/holiday, the Coast Guard can be kept pretty busy.”
