Westport Water Rescue

Saturday, 15 March 2014 - 6:56pm

At about 3.41pm on 15/3/14 police were advised of 2 people drifting out to sea off Carters Beach, Westport.

The pair had been in an 8ft fibreglass recreational fishing boat and had been trying to enter the Buller River when the boat had rolled.

The occupants were thrown into the water.

There were surfers in the area that witnessed the incident and went to assist.
The Westport rescue boat was launched and a rescue helicopter from Greymouth was also sent.

The 2 occupants were caught by the current and taken further out to sea but were subsequently brought ashore by 2 surfers.

2 local males, aged 59 and 23 years, were taken to hospital for a check up but were otherwise okay.

There had been reports of other people in the water but this was subsequently identified as debris from the boat.

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