At 9:02am today, Coastguard’s Operations Centre was contacted by Police after a report of three people in trouble near Spot X, a well-known but remote surf break off the coast of Whale Bay, Raglan.

Coastguard Raglan’s rescue vessel Gallaher Rescue, along with jetskis Rylock Waikato Rescue One and Two, responded to the incident. Raglan Surf Life Saving Club also joined the rescue effort and worked closely with Coastguard’s jetski crews.

At 9:28am, the two Coastguard volunteers aboard Rylock One located the three fishermen on the rocks. Seeing that they were injured, one of the volunteers entered the water with a medical first aid kit and swam to the scene, providing initial treatment and thermal blankets. A member of Raglan Surf also swam in to assist.

According to a Coastguard Raglan spokesperson, the fishermen shared that their 5–6 metre boat had been hit by a large set of waves and capsized. They managed to climb onto the upturned hull but couldn’t get mobile reception to call for help and couldn’t locate their Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB). As the swell pushed the boat toward jagged rocks, they were forced to abandon the vessel, sustaining injuries as they were battered by waves against the rocks before being able to clamber above the high tide line.

“They were cold, shaken, and cut up from the rocks — but incredibly relieved to see help arrive. As they were being checked over, they shared that their lifejackets had kept them afloat and helped prevent more serious injuries. They were in no doubt — those lifejackets saved their lives. Without them, the outcome could have been very different.”

Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter was requested to extract the injured fishermen. At 10:17am, the first patient was airlifted to shore at Manu Bay and handed over to Surf personnel, with the helicopter returning to collect the remaining two.

Conditions at the time included strong easterly winds and a 3-4 foot swell.

This rescue is a timely reminder of the importance of always wearing a lifejacket and highlights just how vital it is to carry a personal locator beacon (PLB) on your person — not just have an EPRIB onboard.

Notes:

• Coastguard Raglan is one of 63 volunteer units that make up Coastguard Tautiaki Moana – a charity dedicated to helping keep people safe on the ocean, and on major lakes and rivers across Aotearoa New Zealand.
• Coastguard Raglan is currently fundraising for a new rescue vessel. Donations can be made at: raglancoastguard.org.nz/donate

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