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Missing Yachtie Named
MISSING YACHTIE NAMED
New Zealand Police Waikato News
Release
7:56am 25 June
2008
http://www.police.govt.nz/news/release.html?id=4032
25 June 2008
The case of a German yachtsman whose vessel was found drifting off the Coromandel coast last week is likely to be referred to the coroner.
No trace of 75-year-old Eric POEHLMANN was found when a fishing vessel came across his 9.5m sloop, the Motu, east of Richards Rock, off Red Mercury Island about 2.30am last Thursday.
Mr POEHLMANN is understood to have left Opua in the Bay of Islands nearly four weeks ago bound for Noumea but had missed several radio schedules and a notification to watch out for his vessel had been posted to ships and boats in the area by the Rescue Coordination Centre.
Police have opened a missing person's inquiry which is currently in its very early stages but indications are the matter will be referred to the Coroner.
Given the length of time between Mr POEHLMANN'S departure from Opua and the distances involved from where his vessel was discovered a search for the missing man is highly unlikely.
Waikato Police have spoken to Mr POEHLMANN'S family in Germany.
Reports of Mr POEHLMANN'S body being found aboard the Motu and that it was sailing in the company of another vessel are not correct.
ENDS
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