Two fishermen who died following a boating tragedy off the Manawatu coast have been named as 55-year-old Steven Michael Militch and 51-year-old Billy Tane Apiata. Both men were from Levin.
The alert was raised around 9.30 last night (Monday 16 March) when the men failed to return from a fishing trip.
A full scale search and rescue led to the missing vessel being located in the off the coast from Hokio Beach with its tip protruding from the water. It later sunk.
About 45 minutes after the boat was spotted the body of one of the men was located in the water. The body of the second man was found a short time later.
Today the National Police Dive Team have been searching for the missing vessel and around 5pm today found the sunken boat approximately 75 metres from the location it had been seen during the search and rescue effort.
The boat was upside down in the water and attempts are now being made to right the vessel and tow it into Foxton.
Media enquiries should be referred to Communications Manager Kim Perks on 027 234 8256.