Three men rescued after boat capsizes near Little Akaloa, Banks Peninsula

Blue Arrow Rescue returning to base after the callout to rescue three men from a capsized boat in Banks Peninsula, Christchurch on Sunday April 13, 2025. Image - Coastguard

• Coastguard volunteers rescued three men after their boat capsized near Little Akaloa Heads.
• The men were saved by Coastguard Sumner, Coastguard Canterbury, and the Westpac Rescue Helicopter.
• All three were assessed as uninjured despite battling two-metre swells and 20-knot winds.

Coastguard volunteers battled massive swells to rescue three men after a boat capsized in Banks Peninsula, Christchurch this afternoon.

Police received a distress call shortly after 1pm from one of the men saying their engine had failed near Little Akaloa Heads, pushing them on to the rocks.

The trio abandoned their vessel and split up as two tried to make their way around the cliff, while one stayed closer to the vessel.

Volunteers from both Coastguard Sumner and Coastguard Canterbury, and Christchurch-based Westpac Rescue Helicopter responded, battling swells up to 2m to save the men.

Coastguard Sumner Blue Arrow Rescue skipper Anthony Honeybone said they rescued the two men off the rocks, who were shaken up and cold.

The helicopter winched up the third person and took him back to shore. A Hato Hone St John spokesperson said they were assessed as uninjured.

Honeybone said the strong 20-knot winds and rough swells were challenging but the crew were glad to get the men back to shore.

The men did the right thing by calling Police for assistance, he said.

“It’s a good thing to just make sure your boat is in good working order, and you’re experienced for the conditions you’re going out in. Anyone can break down, it happens to the best of us.”