Boaties are being urged by police to take basic precautions after seven men were rescued when their boat capsized near Waikato’s Tahāroa this morning.
The vessel had been crossing the Kawhia bar just before 8am but failed to close its bar crossing report with Coastguard.
Their Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacon was activated after their boat capsized at around 8.20am.
A search and rescue effort involving Coastguard Raglan and Auckland Coastguard Air Patrol volunteers was launched and police were alerted when other boaties in the area reported that all seven had made it to shore, police said.
The first group of volunteers arrived at the scene at around 8.30am.
“Thankfully, the group of men on the boat had managed to self-rescue and reached a beach near Opapaka Point where Coastguard volunteers triaged the group and provided initial first aid.”
One man was treated at the scene after sustaining a minor head injury before being taken with five others to Kawhia.
An ambulance crew who assessed the group found they were “cold but uninjured”, police said.
The seventh man was airlifted to hospital with leg injuries.
“While it is fortunate that emergency services were contacted and the group are now safe, police would like to use this opportunity to remind the public to prepare for any possible situation that may occur in the water,” police said.
Police are urging anyone going near the water — regardless of their skill level — to take the basic precautions to keep themselves safe if something goes wrong, including wearing a lifejacket when boating or fishing; having a waterproof bag to safely store your phone inside your lifejacket; and being aware of your surroundings and the dangers they may pose.
Kiwis are also reminded to let someone know where you are going and when you are expected to return, and to keep up to date with the local marine weather forecast.
“Police urge people to change their mindset from ‘It won’t happen to me’ to ‘What if it does?'”
