Four men left clinging to their upturned boat in cold and rough waters off the Northland coast were only minutes away from tragedy, experienced rescuers say.
The men were on a fishing trip near Tauranga Bay when a freak wave flipped their 5.5-metre vessel and threw them into the water on Sunday about 4pm. A volunteer senior firefighter and experienced surf lifeguard went to their aid and plucked the hypothermic men from the sea.
The fishermen were not wearing lifejackets at the time the vessel capsized but instead had them aboard the boat along with the communication equipment. It is not mandatory to wear lifejackets, but Maritime NZ, who want wearing lifejackets to be compulsory for children aged under 15, believe anyone heading out on to the water should wear one.
The misadventure comes only a month after water-safety officials warned Northlanders to take more care near and on the water as the region's drowning toll this year passed the number for the whole of 2012. Nine people have drowned in Northland waters this year.
It was fortunate Linda Clancey, a nurse, was gazing out to sea as she sipped a coffee at her Tauranga Bay bach.