Press Release
24th August 2009
Mangawhai Heads Lifeguards involved in dramatic boat rescue
Mangawhai Heads volunteer lifeguards were involved in a dramatic rescue at the entrance of the Mangawhai Harbour at 9.30am on Saturday morning (22nd August). A 6.1m boat got into difficulty when an electrical fault caused a problem with the boat's Hydraulics system.
The owner of the boat put down its anchor but continued to drift across the Mangawhai "Bar" in challenging 1.5-2m waves. Fortunately there was an IRB (Inflatable Rescue Boat) training course at Mangawhai Heads SLSC and lifeguards Mike Ferguson and Ross Young were dispatched in an IRB to the rescue. Once the owner was safely returned to shore he then sought assistance to try and fix the boats hydraulics. Shortly afterwards a person was taken via a private boat out to the the stricken vessel (located offshore of Head Rock) and began attempts to fix the boat's mechanical problems.
Lifeguards were then notified of this activity and an IRB (Lifeguards -Tim Gibb and Russell Neil) were dispatched to retrieve the person onboard and notify them of any immanent dangers of being onboard the vessel. The person onboard was advised to put on a lifejacket and return to shore with the Lifeguards. Shortly after the person onboard donned their lifejacket, the vessel was struck by a large set wave (2m) and capsized. The person onboard was retrieved by the IRB and returned to shore, leaving the vessel submerged on the Mangawhai Bar. A salvage exercise took place later in the day, with the aim of moving the submerged vessel from the path of boat traffic crossing the bar, and was dragged about 500m offshore adjacent to the Mangawhai Surf Club.
The vessel has still not been returned to shore and was last sighted north of the Mangawhai Surf Beach.
Tony Baker
Public Relations Officer
Mangawhai Heads Volunteer Lifeguard Service Inc.
www.mangawhaisurf.org.nz