Please attribute to Senior Constable Barry Shepherd:
Police and Coastguard volunteers have tonight been searching for an overdue fisherman on the eastern shore of Lake Taupo.
A man went fishing with his dog at 9am this morning and was expected to be home by dark.
When he did not come home, he was reported overdue around 7:45pm.
The Taupo coastguard rescue boat searched for the man however were not able to find him.
The Greenlea Helicopter was then deployed around 9pm and found the missing man in his boat using night vision equipment. Coastguard have then gone in for a closer look and found a man asleep in the boat. It appears that his boat was drifting for approximately four hours, about seven kilometres off his course.
The man was extremely intoxicated.
Police are appalled at this behaviour and would like to remind the public that the water can be an unforgiving place – conditions can change suddenly, and you need to take precautions to look after yourself and others. When out boating, don’t drink– this could have easily ended in tragedy.
This man’s friends and family were understandably very concerned and a large effort has been undertaken by Police, Coastguard and volunteers to locate the man.
Police will be speaking to the man tomorrow.
ENDS
issued by Police Media Centre