Man still missing after boat sinking in Hauraki Gulf

Kawau Island. Photo / Herald on Sunday

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Police say that three men and a teenage boy were lucky to survive after their boat sank in the Hauraki Gulf last night but little hope is held out of finding alive a fourth man.

The six-metre aluminium craft sank off Motuora Island about 6pm throwing all five, who were on a fishing expedition, into the freezing waters.

Three men and the 13-year-old boy were found suffering various stages of hypothermia on a beach near the scene of sinking at 9.50am today and airlifted to Auckland Hospital.

A massive search, including the use of the police Eagle and Westpac rescue helicopters, was mounted for the fourth man, believed to be in his 30s, but there was no sign of him when darkness fell tonight.

The search will resume at first light tomorrow but rescuers said there little chance of him surviving and they were now looking for a body.

The alarm was not raised until after 9am today when the wife of one of the men called police.

Inspector Mark Hall said the men were thought to have been due home last night and it was not known why emergency services were not alerted earlier.

Mr Hall said details of what happened were not yet available.

"All we know is the boat sank about 6pm with five persons on board. Four came ashore."

There was no mayday call, and police did not yet know how quickly the boat sank.

Mr Hall said the four survivors were lucky to survive the very cold conditions.

He said the crew had the "appropriate number of lifejackets" on the boat but they were "not wearing anything smart as far as gear goes".

He said the four found on the beach were very cold.

"The chill factor would be awful."

- NZPA