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Two people were safely rescued after their boat began sinking off the Mangawhai coast earlier this month.
Coastguard Mangawhai responded to an urgent call-out on July 16 after reports that a vessel with two people on board was taking on water.
Coastguard Mangawhai’s dedicated rescue vessel, Kōkako Rescue, was launched within 15 minutes of the initial call.
The two occupants were standing in ankle-deep water inside the vessel when the crew arrived. They were both transferred safely aboard the rescue vessel before volunteers secured the damaged boat and towed it back to Mangawhai.
No injuries were reported.
Coastguard Mangawhai said the incident had a positive outcome thanks to the quick response of its volunteer crew, who had the rescue vessel underway within minutes of receiving the call.
The rescue highlights the importance of Coastguard Mangawhai, which became a standalone Coastguard New Zealand unit earlier this year.
The volunteer service was established to improve emergency response times in an area previously identified as a gap between Whangārei and Kawau, with the Mangawhai Bar recognised as one of Northland’s most dangerous stretches of coastline.
