Gisborne rescue chopper in search for man overboard

The Trust Tairāwhiti rescue helicopter has been helping with the search for a missing crew member off the coast of Hawke’s Bay. Picture by Liam Clayton

Gisborne’s Trust Tairāwhiti rescue helicopter joined the major search for a crew member off a commercial fishing boat who was reported missing overboard off the coast of Hawke’s Bay on Monday night.

The emergency services were notified around 9.15pm that night when the boat was around 11km offshore from Waimārama.

Maritime NZ’s Rescue Coordination Centre called in rescue choppers from Gisborne, Auckland and Hastings, Coastguard Hawke’s Bay and other vessels in the area.

A crew on a Royal New Zealand Air Force NH90 helicopter have also assisted with the search.

Hawke’s Bay deputy harbour master Adrian Wright said the circumstances of how the person ended up overboard were unclear and it was not known if they were wearing a lifejacket.

Conditions off the coast of Hawke’s Bay remained mostly fine yesterday, with a southeast swell of one metre.

The Gisborne chopper joined the search on Monday night and remained as part of the air and sea search yesterday.

A rescue chopper from Taupō covered this region while the Trust Tairāwhiti machine was engaged in Hawke’s Bay.

No sign of the missing man had been reported when The Gisborne Herald went to print last night.