Source: Radio New Zealand
Police launch Lady Elizabeth IV found the boat about 6km off the coast.
Police and Westpac Rescue Helicopter have rescued a diver and boaties in windy and choppy conditions off Wellington’s south coast this week.
The police maritime unit responded to an emergency call from two people on a 5.4m runabout about 4pm Thursday, after they struck difficulties with 88km/h winds and two-metre waves, and were being blown out to seas.
The boat owner, who was the only occupant who knew how to drive the boat, had been scuba-diving and was still in the water closer to shore.
Police called in the rescue helicopter and volunteer coastguard to assist, and about 4.30pm, the police launch Lady Elizabeth IV found the boat about 6km off the coast.
Constable Stephanie Cox was able to board the boat in tricky conditions and drive it back to Owhiro Bay.
An hour later, the diver was located on a remote shore, after surfacing and realising his boat had gone. He was airlifted to Wellington Airport.
No-one was harmed, but all three were shaken by the experience.
“These two men can consider themselves lucky,” senior launch master Constable Nicko McGregor said. “These difficult weather conditions were no place for a small runabout to be.
“This is a reminder of how quickly situations at sea can change. Good preparation and formal training make a real difference, when things don’t go to plan on the water.”
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
