Stricken yacht triggers dramatic rescue

 

During the early hours of Tuesday morning, November 15, Mangawhai Heads volunteer lifeguards received notification from Surf Life Saving Northern Region (SLSNR) about a yacht that had run aground somewhere along the coast between Whangarei Heads and Bream Tail.

The sole passenger of the yacht was missing at sea in his life raft, triggering an extensive search further north off the coast of Bream Bay and Whangarei Heads by the coast guard and surf life saving clubs.

Local volunteer lifeguards Murray Dix and Mark Vercoe responded immediately.

Vercoe drove his vehicle along the Mangawhai Heads surf beach, spotting the yacht and notifying Dix of its whereabouts.

Dix then launched the Mangawhai Heads Volunteer Lifeguard Service (MHVLS) Sea Rider rescue boat, collected Vercoe, and started the search for the missing man.

Surf com operators indicated that they search north and south of the harbour entrance and north towards Bream Tail.

After some time, on a last scan out to sea, Vercoe noticed a white flash approximately 1km offshore – the missing man in his small inflatable life raft.

He was returned to shore – cold, wet, and without a lifejacket – and greeted by local police constable Graham Gough who provided comfort until transported to Whangarei Hospital by ambulance.

Dix said they were quite lucky to have found the man.

“It was pitch black, and we searched for some time. It was very lucky that Mark spotted him with his flashlight. The man was very relieved to see us, he broke down in tears.”

Later in the morning Dix and Vercoe successfully salvaged the 29-foot vessel off Head Rock and with the assistance of the local harbour master, towed the damaged craft into the Mangawhai Harbour.

“The main problem here is that not only was the man a very inexperienced sailor and had no idea of where he was located, he also wasn’t wearing a life jacket when our guards found him,” said MHVLS public relations officer Tony Baker.

“People must be prepared when heading fishing, boating or sailing," he said. "Lifejackets and a knowledge of the coast are a must."

The rescue will be nominated for SLSNR Rescue of the Month.

Murray Dix has already received a NZ Search and Rescue Award for a similar incident on Head Rock in the past.

Thanks goes to Coastguard Northern Region, SLSNR, police and other surf life saving and community volunteers who assisted with the rescue.


DAWN: On the rocks at Mangawhai Heads. (PHOTO/Mark Vercoe)

SAVED: The 29-foot boat was salvaged and towed to Mangawhai harbour. (PHOTO/Mark Vercoe)