Distressed boatie sends rescuers to wrong island

File photo / Wanganui Chronicle

An Auckland commercial water taxi skipper broke his jaw and cheekbone when his vessel ran onto rocks and started taking on water early this morning.

The Coastguard received a distress radio call from the 63-year-old Auckland man soon after 1am saying his 10m vessel had struck rocks off Waiheke Island.

The boat was actually off the coast of nearby Motuihe Island, and Coastguard northern region duty officer Peter Seymour-Nash said the man was probably disoriented as a result of his injuries and from the shock of the impact.

The man let off a flare which enabled rescue teams to pinpoint him after searching for about 40 minutes.

His leaky boat was towed to Half Moon Bay and he was taken to Auckland Hospital with a broken jaw and cheekbone, cuts to his face and a head injury.

The Maritime Safety Authority is investigating.

- NZPA