Inflatable boat found
 
An inflatable boat thought to have been used by a 72-year-old man missing off the Wairarapa coast has been found by an RNZAF P3 Orion but no sign of the man has been found.
 
The 2-3m inflatable boat was found late today 68km (37 nautical miles) off the coast.
 
The Martinborough man went out from Sandy Bay near Te Awaiti at 11am yesterday to set a crayfish pot.  The Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand (RCCNZ) has managed a search involving the Orion, helicopters, two fishing boats, and a land-based coastal search today.
 
Tomorrow the Police Dive Squad will search Sandy Bay, near the man’s crayfish pot at the mouth of the bay.  A further coastal search will also be undertaken.
 
RCCNZ search and rescue mission coordinator Keith Allen praised the efforts of the Orion crew in finding the inflatable boat.
 
“They have searched thousands of square kilometres and to find a boat that small is a tremendous effort.”
 
A further update will be issued after midday tomorrow, unless there are further developments.
 
ENDS

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