3 March 2005
A man has been taken to Auckland Hospital suffering from severe hypothermia after a small fishing vessel overturned 5 kilometres west of the South Manukau Heads at about 7.30pm last night.
Two of the three men on board managed to swim to shore and report the emergency to Police after clinging to the hull for about six hours.
A third man became separated and was the subject of an intense search and rescue operation involving Auckland Maritime Police, the Westpac Rescue Helicopter and Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand (RCCNZ).
He was eventually located just after 4 am clinging to rocks about 150 metres from shore.
The Helicopter then winched the man off the rocks and took him to hospital where his condition is unknown at this stage.
RCCNZ Search and Rescue Mission Coordinator John Ashby says, “Luckily he was wearing a reflectorised lifejacket otherwise the helicopter may not have spotted him.
“This incident was a good example of close cooperation between emergency services.”
For further information contact:
Maritime New Zealand Media Line
Phone 04 499 7318
