Four from one family missing after trawler rolls

INVERCARGILL - A devastated Bluff family is waiting to find out if four of its members are still alive after a fishing trawler rolled in Foveaux Strait yesterday.

Six members of the Topi family, led by 78-year-old Leslie Christian Topi, known as Peter, were returning from muttonbirding on the Titi Islands on the 17 metre Kotuku when it rolled about 2.30pm near Women's Island, about 15km off the coast of Stewart Island.

Peter's 46-year-old son, Paul Maurice, and grandson Dylan James Topi, 16, were found on Women's Island last night and stayed at Stewart Island before returning home today.

Kotuku skipper John Edward Edminstin, 56, was also found on the island and was flown to Southland Hospital last night, said acting area commander Inspector Barry Taylor, of the Invercargill police.

Still missing is Peter, his daughter Tania Marie Topi, 41, mother of Dylan and sister of Paul; Tania's son, Sailor Roy Trow-Topi, 9; Paul's son, Shain Jack Topi-Tairi, 9; and Clinton Allan Woods, 34, and Ian James Hayward, 52.

Mr Taylor said two bodies had been recovered but their names were not being released yet.

The Kotuku had rolled about 2.30pm but police were not alerted to the tragedy until about 6.20pm after fires and people were spotted on Women's Island which was normally uninhabited, and a vessel in the area found some debris floating in the area, he said.

Police did not believe the boat had hit rocks and were unsure why it had rolled. Mr Taylor was not aware of any mayday call.

The three survivors - two in a hut and one on the foreshore of the island - were rescued by helicopter.

"Clearly the events of just under the last 24 hours have been quite traumatic for everybody involved, including the Bluff community.

"It hits one particular family in what can only be said is tragic circumstances.

"It's a shame that such tragic events can only pull communities together and our thoughts must be with not only the Topi family and other families involved, but with the entire Bluff community."

Life expectancy in the 12degC chilly waters of Foveaux Strait was about five hours so unless the missing people had been able to swim to an island, or had some flotation device or were on the boat hull if it had not sunk, it was unlikely they were alive.

"The longer this search extends, the less likelihood there is of finding survivors," Mr Taylor said.

The search teams have not been able to locate the boat yet and are unsure whether it has sunk or partially submerged. The search was originally managed in Invercargill but was taken over by Maritime New Zealand in Wellington this morning.

A spokesman for Maritime New Zealand said about 20 vessels, three helicopters and a fixed wing aircraft were searching the area this morning.

Mr Taylor said teams of search and rescue personnel were also being flown to the nearby islands to carry out ground searches today. He said the weather weather had not been bad yesterday afternoon, but it closed in last night with rain and sleet and very murky conditions for the searchers.

- NZPA