New Zealand Police Alert 4:00pm 27 Jul 2008 Bay of Plenty
Location of incident: Opotiki
Incident type: Water emergency
At about 5am Sunday 27th July 2008 police were notified of a 4 MHz beacon activation at sea.
On daybreak police discovered that a commercial fishing boat had been thrown onto rocks near the Opape settlement, east
of Opotiki.
Two persons were rescued suffering from hypothermia. Another was found deceased in the water.
A further person is missing presumed drowned.
Air and land searches have been taking place throughout the day but sea conditions are described as treacherous.
A further release will be made at 12pm Monday 28th July 2008
Sergeant Andrew O'Reilly
Officer in Charge Opotiki/Search and rescue incident controller
Issued By: Inspector Kerry Watson