Man overboard rescued by Coastguard following bar crossing incident

Coastguard Raglan has rescued a person from the sea, following a bar crossing incident involving a charter vessel carrying 17 people.

The Coastguard Operations Centre was alerted to a charter vessel which had failed to close their bar crossing report. As protocol, search and rescue processes were launched. Soon after, the skipper contacted Police to raise the alarm that one person had gone overboard in the heavy conditions. The skipper reported that everyone was wearing lifejackets and a lifebuoy and Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) had been thrown to the person in the water.

Emergency services responded immediately, with Coastguard Raglan volunteers launching Joe Hawke Rescue vessel as well as two jetskis Rylock 1 and 2. Raglan Surf Life Saving and Taranaki Rescue Helicopter Trust also responded.

The person overboard was able to activate the EPIRB at 0810, leading one of Coastguard Raglan’s jetskis directly to the location and swiftly retrieving them out of the water at 0820. Coastguard returned to a nearby beach where first-aid was provided and the person was taken to hospital via ambulance with hypothermia.

At least five others, including the skipper were injured in the bar crossing incident, with the charter vessel able to return to shore under its own control. The vessel’s electronics and communications were also impacted in the incident. Coastguard and St John staff provided immediate first-aid to those injured on shore.

Coastguard Duty Officer Mark Leevers: “This was a fantastic search and rescue result considering the conditions on the Raglan bar this morning. There is no doubt that without the person wearing a lifejacket and the response from those on-board to throw a lifebuoy and EPIRB, we could have been dealing with a very different scenario.”

“It was a rapid search and rescue response from all agencies involved including RCCNZ, Police, Surf Life Saving and Rescue Helicopter. Coastguard Raglan’s ability to launch a jetski response in these conditions speaks to the highly-skilled volunteers of the unit – we’re all delighted to have played a role in saving a life on the water this morning.”

All further enquires are to be directed to Police at this time.

For more information, contact:
Ben Parsons
Coastguard New Zealand Senior Communications Advisor
[email protected]