Raglan, Friday 9 May, 2025 – Two ‘very lucky fishermen’ were rescued in a seven-hour late-night mission yesterday near Whale Bay, Raglan, after their small boat became submerged. 

At 7:19pm on Thursday 8 May, Police alerted Coastguard Operations Centre of two men overdue from a day fishing trip. The pair had set off at about 10:00am in a small inflatable dinghy, intending to set a long line off Whale Bay and Manu Bay. A text message sent at 7:06pm by one of the men to his partner prompted emergency services to act swiftly. 

Coastguard Raglan responded at 8:05pm and launched jetskis Rylock Rescue One and Two with four volunteers, supported by Gallagher Rescue with a further seven.  

“Their vessel became submerged by the swells on their return trip and eventually washed up on the rocks,” Coastguard Raglan President Wally Hawken said.  

At 8:34pm, volunteers spotted a faint light onshore west of Whale Bay, a remote and hazardous section of the coastline. The men were found stranded on rocks, cold and showing signs of hypothermia.  

A jetski volunteer swam a short distance to the rocky cliff to support the two men while crew onboard Gallagher Rescue prepared a dry bag of warm gear and supplies to throw ashore, Hawken said.  

“There was no way out around the rocks, and with the strengthening northeasterly winds and rising swell, we made the decision to request support from Westpac Rescue Helicopter.  

By 12:04am both men were safely airlifted back to Raglan and reunited with family. 

"They were two very lucky fishermen,” he said.  

Hawken said the Rylock Rescue One and Two jetskis and crew were invaluable in the rescue effort. 

“They were integral to the result by being able to get close to the rocks and for a volunteer to swim and assist the men. The swells would have been very challenging to do that with just our Gallagher Rescue vessel,” he said.  

All volunteers returned to shore by 1:05am.  

Hawken said this incident is an important reminder to always wear your lifejacket, take two forms of waterproof communication, and ensure you have a vessel fit for purpose.