13 January 2008
Waikato Police are urging boaters to check conditions before going out following a near tragedy at the entrance to Tairua Harbour yesterday.
A 54-year-old man is currently recovering in Auckland Hospital after being airlifted there following his rescue from a boat that overturned while crossing the bar.
Constable Arama Chase of Tairua Police said the incident happened about 3pm.
"The man was one of five members of a Paeroa family aboard the boat at the time.
"Others on the boat included his 29-year-old son and 27-year-old daughter in law and their two young children, none of them were wearing life jackets."
As the 16ft fibreglass runabout approached the entrance to the harbour it foundered on the sandbar and overturned, throwing the family into the water.
"The children were trapped under the boat and the grandfather has gone back under it to free them," said Mr Chase.
"Lifeguards from the Tairua Surf Club were first on the scene and got everybody to safety, the local Coast Guard recovered the vessel a short time later."
Mr Chase said had the grandfather not gone back under the boat it is likely the children would have drowned.
"This incident highlights two key things, the importance of life jackets and equally important, the necessity to check conditions before heading out.
"Conditions at the time of the incident were not good for boating with a large swell and easterly winds, we're very fortunate that we're not reviewing what could have been a double tragedy," he said.
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