Man dies in boat crash

Photo / APN

One man is dead and another person is in a serious condition in hospital after two boats collided north of the Coromandel peninsula yesterday evening.

Emergency services were called to Otautu Bay in Colville just after 7pm. One person was pronounced dead at the scene, and another airlifted to Waikato Hospital in a serious condition.

A spokeswoman for the coastguard northern region said two vessels collided and at least four people had to be retrieved from the water.At least one person had suffered a broken bone.

Local police were on the way to the site late last night. An officer at the Whitianga police station said they were still trying to notify next of kin.