"Combined effort sees pair safely back to shore"
Please attribute to Sergeant Craig Kennedy, Auckland Police Maritime Unit
Two men are safe after their small aluminium boat overturned in Mellons Bay, near Howick.
A member of the public notified Police at 6.49pm when he spotted the pair in trouble, who were in the water for 15
minutes.
The Police Eagle helicopter crew soon located the men while a Auckland Police Maritime Unit rigid-hulled inflatable boat
(RHIB) made its way to the Bay.
A local ferry dropped two lifejackets to the men and stayed with them.
When Police arrived another boat had turned up, had collected the drenched men and was towing the stricken boat to
shore.
We are grateful to the member of the public for raising the alarm and to the ferry crew for coming to the men’s aid.
It was fortunate the incident happened in calm conditions while it was still light, otherwise it could have been a
different story.
It’s possible the pair had lifejackets in the boat.
This is a perfect example of why it pays to always wear your lifejackets.
Police are pleased these men are safe and back with their families.
But we hope they will remember our prevention advice the next time they take to the water.
ENDS