Crew of Fishing Boat Located by Orion

An Air Force Orion has located a liferaft with three crewmembers from a fishing boat that caught fire 180km northwest of Cape Reinga in the early hours of this morning.

San Rocelle.

The Orion was sent to look for the crew by the Rescue Coordination Centre following a distress call from the vessel at 4:00am.

With the liferaft now located, an Auckland Westpac Rescue helicopter has been sent to rescue the crew and is expected to reach the liferaft at approximately 10:00am.

In the meantime, the Orion will remain overhead to monitor the crew and the subsequent rescue operation.

RCCNZ Search and Rescue Officer John Ashby says that, fortunately, the weather conditions are reasonable with 10-knot southerly winds and swell of one metre.

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