Container ship joins rescue effort

June 14, 2016: 8.45am

A container ship is re-routing to assist three people aboard the battered yacht, Platino, 550 kilometres north of New Zealand - after a crewman was lost overboard and another died when hit by rigging yesterday morning.

An RNZAF P3 Orion is already out searching again this morning for the man, aged in his 60s, who was swept overboard when he was likely hit by the boom in high winds, which later caused the rigging on the 20-metre yacht to collapse before midday yesterday. The body of the man who died is still on-board – as his fellow crew continue to try to secure the rigging and the mast that was drifting alongside the yacht.

Rescue Coordination Centre of New Zealand watch leader David Wilson says the Airforce Orion headed out at first light, with the search area about 223 square nautical miles - calculated from drift predictions.

“The next few hours are vital in this rescue effort – both in attempting to recover the man lost overboard, and to ensure the safety of those left on-board. Once the container shipSouthern Lily is alongside its crew will help to clear the rigging.

“There is plenty of diesel onboard the yacht, and once the rigging has been cleared the remaining Platino crew may be able to motor the vessel back to New Zealand. The sea is currently four-five metres with conditions forecast to improve later today,” Mr Wilson says.

ENDS

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