NewIdea
  • Royals
  • Celebrity
  • News
  • Beauty & Style
  • Health & Wellbeing
  • Food
  • Win
  • Recipes
  • Video
NewIdea
  • Royals
  • Celebrity
  • News
  • Beauty & Style
  • Health & Wellbeing
  • Food
  • Win
  • Recipes
  • Video
Subscribe
  1. Home
  2. News

New Zealand fisherman miraculously saves baby boy floating in the ocean

"If it was a minute later I wouldn't have seen him." - by Grace Back
  • 06 Nov 2018

An 18-month-old toddler has been miraculously saved from the ocean after he wandered out of a tent while his parents were asleep. 

Fisherman Gus Hutt thought Malachi Reeve was a doll when he saw a small figure floating in the water at Matata Beach, near Whakatane on New Zealand's north island.

It wasn't until Malachi let out a squeak that Mr Hutt knew he was alive and plucked him from the sea.

Malachi's mother, Jessica Whyte, said she felt like her "heart had stopped beating" after discovering her baby boy had unzipped their tent while they were sleeping.

Daily Mirror on Twitter

Speaking to NZ Herald, Mr Hutt said: "His face looked like porcelain with his short hair wetted down but then he let out a little squeak and I thought, 'Oh God, this is a baby and it's alive'." 

"He was floating at a steady pace with a rip in the water. If I hadn't been there, or if I had just been a minute later I wouldn't have seen him. He was bloody lucky, but he just wasn't meant to go, it wasn't his time." 

Malachi's mother, Jessica was woken by the camp manager informing her that Malachi had been rescued from the sea.

"It was horrible in between hearing that and seeing him," she told Stuff. "I don't think my heart [beat] from hearing that to seeing him. I don't think my heart worked.

"It was scary but he was breathing, he was alive. Oh God, it was amazing seeing him. I gave him a big hug." 

Grace Back
Grace is the Digital Content Editor at New Idea. Grace is a lifestyle junkie who has previously interned at Dolly, Stellar and marie claire, as well having written in the fashion and beauty sections at Finder.com.au. When not working, you can find Grace heading for the slopes, playing with her pup or stuck in a seemingly endless Instagram scroll.

Subscribe to New Idea & save!-+ save!

Subscribe to New Idea today

Subscribe Now
Subscribe to New Idea & save!

Subscribe to New Idea & save!-+ save!

Subscribe to New Idea today

Subscribe Now
Subscribe to New Idea & save!

Recommended to you

Home and Away opening title
Watch 1:09

Home and Away opening title

{headline}

{headline}

Serial liar Belle Gibson is still yet to pay her $410,000 fine

World's most identical twins: We're all natural now

Biggest Loser star Sam Rouen's incredible transformation

Woman discovers her mother-in-law TRYING ON her wedding dress

{headline}

{headline}

Gable Tostee claims topless woman who was groped at festival was 'looking for a fight'

SHOCK VIDEO: Men 'terrorise woman into horror road accident'

SHOCK VIDEO: Men 'terrorise woman into horror road accident'

Emotional moment teen rings cancer bell after beating stage four brain tumour

{headline}

{headline}

Queen shares rare glimpse inside Buckingham Palace as trees are decorated

Ricki-Lee flaunts her pert derrière in orange bikini

Nicole Kidman took her niece Lucia Hawley as her ARIA date

This is the horrifying story of an orangutan kept as a $2 sex slave

Bizarre food-themed baby names saw a surge in popularity in 2018

WATCH: Mum welcomes first set of quadruplets in New Zealand in 20 YEARS

Cannibal killer sold his victims in sandwiches

NewIdea
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Competitions
NewIdea Magazine Subscribe
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Competitions

Brands

  • Girlfriend
  • New Idea food
  • Practical Parenting
  • That’s Life
  • Who

Our Network

  • Better Homes and Gardens
  • BHG Shop
  • marie claire
  • Beauty Crew
  • Women's Weekly Food
  • Bounty Parents
  • Home Beautiful
  • All Recipes
  • Perth Now
  • The West Australian
  • 7Plus
  • 7mate
  • 7NEWS
  • 7Sport
  • Sunrise
  • Starts at 60
  • Hard to Find
© 2022 Are Media PTY LTD
All products are independently selected, tested or recommended by our team of experts.If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Get more from New Idea

Magazine Subscription Offer

Subscribe to New Idea & save!-+ save!

Shop This Offer
Subscribe to New Idea & save!