A Kerikeri man has had a speedy recovery after falling seriously ill while aboard a yacht off the Northland coast.
Gary Francis, 53, of Kerikeri, was on his way back to New Zealand after taking part in the Auckland to Noumea race on the yacht, Rikki.
Mr Francis fell illand had to be airlifted by the Northland Electricity rescue helicopter to Whangarei Hospital on June 19 after his teammates found him unconscious. The yacht was 60 kilometres off the coast of Cape Reinga. Pilot Pete Turnbull said the sea conditions were slight which made the the rescue relatively straightforward.
"The man was deep down in the yacht in a bunk so it took some effort by the paramedic to get him on the stretcher.
"It took 27 minutes for us to winch the man up. He was unconscious and in a serious condition," Mr Turnbull said.
Mr Francis was transferred to Auckland on Tuesday afternoon to receive urgent surgery for a brain bleed caused by a large tumour.
He has now been moved on to a ward and despite major surgery only a week ago, is recovering well.
Mr Francis' daughter, Paula Andrew, said within a week of the surgery, her father has gone from being "paralysed with drugs and basically in a coma" to "having the grandchildren crawling all over him."
Mrs Andrew said her father had experienced an incredibly quick recovery considering what he has been through.
"The doctors we very unsure whether he would even wake up."
She said there had been no signs her father had a tumour before he set off on the yacht race,
She was told by the doctors the brain tumour had caused bleeding.
Mrs Andrew said the family was doing well.
"Evan [Mr Francis' son] is home from Greece and Mum [Laurie Francis] is holding up. I think its a little harder for her because she is a nurse and she understands everything that is being said."
Mrs Andrew said all they can do now is wait for results and go from there.
"If this had happened a day earlier, the helicopter would not have been able to reach the boat. It was completely unexpected and he is extremely lucky to be alive.
"The doctors have been fantastic. They are happy and confident they have removed everything they needed to."
