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An eight-metre boat carrying four passengers flipped while crossing the Mangawhai Harbour entrance yesterday afternoon.
Lifeguards report that although the swell had dropped to about a 1.5m to 2m swell, king tides and the current had made the entrance and surf conditions tricky.
Mangawhai Heads Volunteer Surf Life Saving (MHVLS) club captain Tony Baker says the boat was returning from a day out on the water around 1.15pm. All four passengers on board were thrown into the strong current and surf when the baot turned over.
“Fortunately, there were a number of surfers in the water, including local Colin Young, who managed to retrieve a number of the people,” Tony says. “Off-duty lifeguard Isaac Johnston and surfer Craig Freeman also responded.
“All four people were very stressed, and the patient retrieved by Johnston was in a stable but stressed condition. There were concerns he had taken on a lot of water and was struggling to breathe.”
MHVLS Lifeguard Jess Costello was called to assist and make a full assessment of the patient before the St John Ambulance arrived. The patient was transported to Whangarei Hospital by the NEST helicopter, but was later discharged.
MHVLS after-hours call-out squad members, Murray Dix and Mark Vercoe, retrieved the boat and towed it back into the harbour later in the evening.
Tony says the incident was the second boat flipping this year, and the first major incident after the MHVLS patrol season ended.
“Key areas for concern were the fact that none of the passengers onboard were wearing lifejackets and although they had a lot of local experience, the dangers and challenges of crossing the Mangawhai Bar were too much for them on the day.
“There were a number of other very close calls over the weekend due to the size of the swell and big tides.
“A massive thanks to all the lifeguards and people who helped out with this rescue.”
