[Paddlewise] another incident in fiordland

*Four people have been rescued overnight from a liferaft off Puysegur Point
in Southern Fiordland after their pleasure craft hit a reef. *

Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand (RCCNZ) Mission Controller, Tracy
Brickles, said an emergency locator beacon alert was received at 10pm.

"After satellite confirmation that the alert was genuine, we immediately
despatched a helicopter from Southern Lakes Helicopters in Te Anau to track
down the beacon, and found the liferaft with four people on board at around
12.20 am" Brickles said.

"Because of two metre sea swells in the area, the helicopter was unable to
winch the four people to safety.

"A fishing vessel from Preservation Inlet in Fiordland, the Abrollis,
responded to our request for a vessel to rescue those on board the
liferaft."

She said the Abrollis reached the liferaft, with the Southern Lakes
helicopter pointing the way overhead, at around 1.30am.

It successfully picked up the four people on board and has taken them back
to Weka Island in Preservation Inlet.

Brickles said that the four are all in good spirits and have not sustained
any injuries.

They are to be picked up tomorrow morning by helicopter and taken to
Invercargill.

It is understood that the four survivors took to their liferaft when their
vessel, the Solander, hit a reef in the area and quickly sank.

The Solander is a recreational vessel, although previously it was a
commercial fishing boat.
***************************************************************************
PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed
here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire
responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author.
Submissions:     PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net
Subscriptions:   PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net
Website:         http://www.paddlewise.net/
***************************************************************************