31 December 2010
Waikato Police are looking at the most appropriate way to formally acknowledge the actions of a woman who assisted the survivor of a sunken boat get ashore on the northern coast of the Coromandel Peninsula this evening.
Acting Eastern Waikato Area Commander, Inspector Marcus Lynam, said the woman rescued the man from the water after the boat he was on sunk in heavy seas in Otautu Bay near Coleville about 7.20pm.
"He was one of two men aboard the 18ft runabout when it sunk, taking him ashore in an area of poor communications she was able to raise the alarm that resulted in a fantastic response from local boaties in the area who put their vessels out to sea to search for the other man.
"That man was located unconscious by the crew of one of those vessels about 20 minutes later, attempts to revive him were unsuccessful and the man's body was brought back to the coast and his death has been reported to the Coroner."
Mr Lynam said the incident was all the more tragic in that the man's death could have been avoidable had the pair been wearing lifejackets.
"Now we have a family about to see in the New Year in the most tragic of circumstances and we hope others can avoid such dreadful circumstances by taking some simple safety steps.
"Those steps include, as we've mentioned, wearing your life jacket, keeping within the limits of your vessel, maintaining two separate waterproof means of communication, check the marine weather forecast before you head out and expect changes and avoid alcohol."
End