Angler tells of terror as boat run down

By ELIZABETH BINNING

When a commercial tuna boat capsized Andrew Mawson's small craft and pinned him underwater, he thought things could not get any worse - until a shark showed up.

Mr Mawson was anchored about 15 nautical miles north of the Raglan bar on Saturday, fishing with mate Kevin Wallace.

"We noticed a large vessel steaming our way from the Raglan bar, but it was just a dot at that stage."

The men were in Mr Mawson's 4.5m outboard, Taz Man, and did not notice the other vessel - a 13.7m tuna boat called Liberty - again until it was nearly "on top" of them.

After seeing the boat, both men tried to get the skipper's attention, but Mr Mawson said it looked as though no one was at the tuna boat's helm.

"We both yelled and screamed and waved our arms in the air but no one appeared."

As Mr Mawson headed for the radio to make a mayday call, Mr Wallace jumped overboard and swam clear of the two boats.

At that moment Liberty hit and Mr Mawson was also forced into the water.

He found himself pinned against a metal stabiliser on the tuna boat.

"I was underwater trying to swim clear and I could see this steel bar coming towards me. Then I felt a hell of a thump.

"My legs were trapped between the two vessels, then I was dragged under water for about 10 to 20 seconds."

When Mr Mawson finally got clear of the tuna boat, his first concern was for his mate Kevin.

That concern turned to his own safety when a mako shark appeared to inspect the accident.

"I couldn't feel my leg at all but I knew it had to be bleeding ... My words at the time were not all choice."

The shark was more interested in the floating bait than Mr Wallace.

The Liberty crew helped the two men on board and Mr Wallace applied ice and bandages to Mr Mawson's swollen and bloody legs.

Both men were taken to Waikato Hospital by ambulance when the tuna boat returned to Raglan.

Mr Wallace escaped injury and Mr Mawson was discharged with a crushed lower shin.

The Maritime Safety Authority is investigating.

Liberty's owner, Graham Gordon from Galeforce Ltd in Tauranga, told the Herald yesterday that he would not comment on the accident until he had a chance to discuss it further with the skipper, who was "100 miles offshore" at present and "outside phone range".

He did say he had an understanding of the incident but would not reveal any details.

In the meantime, Mr Mawson, a member of the Raglan Sports Fishing Club, is resting at his Huntly home and mourning his prized gear.

His boat has been recovered, minus fishing rods and equipment.

"I'm an ardent fisherman ... I was going to be the top boat and top angler this year and now I have got nothing. I lost all my rods, everything."

Authority spokeswoman Helen Mojel said it was unusual for a commercial vessel to run into another boat.

The investigation could take months, depending on how long it took to collect witness statements.

Ms Mojel could not comment on the Raglan collision but said reckless or negligent behaviour on the water, such as a watchman falling asleep at the helm, had in the past resulted in prosecution.

Such behaviour carries a fine of up to $100,000 or a period in prison.