4 November 2008

Real Rescue during Emergency Services Tour

A winner of an Emergency Services Tour got a special thrill when the Coast Guard had to stop the tour to rescue a boat on Sunday.

Sue Nicholas, the second prize winner of the Emergency Services Tour, was on hand when the Coast Guard got the call to rescue five people adrift on a boat in the harbour.

The boat’s outboard motor overheated and was adrift in the harbour. The situation was dangerous as the motor overheated and melted components on the boat. The boat, owned by Mark Walker, had six passengers on board including Mark, his wife Lisa, three children and the family dog.

The Coast Guard acted swiftly and rescued Mark, his wife, three children and the family dog, towing the beleaguered Bayliner back to harbour.

“We were well briefed from the beginning about what would happen if the Coast Guard got called out. It was an absolute thrill to see the Coast Guard in action, everything happened so fast and so professionally,” Sue Nicholas said. “

The rest of the emergency services tour ran smoothly, without any further incidents. Sue Nicholas was the second prize winner of the Emergency Services Tour and received a tour of Coast Guard, the Canterbury Emergency Coordination Centre, met a rescue dog and toured the St. John headquarters in Christchurch.

Jordan Boot, a 12 year old girl from Kaikoura, received the grand prize - a helicopter flight, a tour of the Christchurch Fire Station. Christchurch Police Station, and the Canterbury Emergency Coordination Centre, and meeting a rescue dog.

ENDS

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