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Media Release: Mangawhai Heads Volunteer Lifeguards
During the early hours of Tuesday morning (3.30am December 15) Mangawhai Heads Volunteer Lifeguards received notification from Surf Life Saving Northern Region (SLSNR) about a yacht that had run aground somewhere along the coast between Whangarei Heads and Bream Tail, and that the sole passenger of the Yacht was drifting at sea in his life raft. Information was vague as to the where-abouts of the life raft and there was already an extensive Search taking place further north off the coast of Bream Bay and Whangarei Heads by Coast Guard and Surf Life Saving Clubs.
Volunteer Lifeguards Murray Dix and Mark Vercoe responded immediately. Vercoe drove his vehicle along the Mangawhai Heads Surf beach to search for the grounded Yacht and life raft. He spotted the Yacht and notified Dix of its’ whereabouts. Dix had then launched the MHVLS Sea Rider Rescue Boat and collected Vercoe and started the search for the missing man and life raft. Surf Com operators had indicated that they search north and south of the Harbour Entrance and North towards Bream Tail.
They searched for some time and could not locate the man in his Life Boat and it was only on a last scan out to sea Vercoe noticed a white flash approximately 1km offshore. They located the missing man in his small inflatable life raft. The man was cold and very wet, due to having entered the water on a number of occasions. He was wearing a t-shirt and boxers and had no life jacket on. Dix wrapped the man his warm jacket and they returned the man to shore and were greeted by local Police Constable Graham Gough who comforted the man until he was transported to Whangarei Hospital by the St John Ambulance.
Dix said it was quite lucky to have found the man.
“It was pitch black, and we searched for some time. It was very lucky that Mark (Vercoe) spotted him with his flash light” he said. The man was very relieved to see us, he broke down in tears” Dix said.
Later in the morning Dix and Vercoe successfully salvaged the 29ft vessel off Head Rock and with the assistance of the local Harbour Master, towed the damaged vessel into the Mangawhai Harbour.
“The main problem here is that not only was the man a very inexperienced sailor and had no idea of where he was located, he also wasn't wearing a life jacket when our guards found him” said MHVLS Public Relations Officer Tony Baker. “People must be prepared when heading fishing, boating or sailing” he said. “Life Jackets and a knowledge of the coast are a must.”
The rescue will be nominated for SLSNR Rescue of the Month. A massive thanks to Coastguard Northern Region, SLSNR, Police and other Surf Life Saving and community volunteers who assisted with this.
Murray Dix has already received a NZ Search and Rescue Award for a similar incident on Head Rock in the past. Both lifeguards are very experienced and valued members of MHVLS.
