Search continues for missing fisherman who fell from his boat off Raglan coast, Waikato

Police divers are today looking for a fisherman who activated an emergency beacon before disappearing from his boat off the Raglan coast.

An Auckland Rescue Helicopter spokesperson told the Waikato Herald the crew were sent to assist with the search for an activated beacon on a vessel at 10.29am yesterday

The spokesperson said the crew searched extensively before being stood down by police.

“Crew performed what’s called a grid search or an expanding square search from the vessel,” the spokesperson said.

“The helicopter was searching for approximately an hour and a half before being stood down.”

Sergeant Warren Shaw, of Waikato Search and Rescue, said the man was fishing alone when he made a call over maritime radio about 10am stating he was having a medical event.

“A short time later he activated his emergency locator beacon,” Shaw said.

Raglan Coast Gallagher Rescue Coastguard volunteers and Westpac Rescue Helicopter found his empty boat anchored about 14km off the coast of Raglan.

The police Eagle Helicopter and Coastguard Air Patrol also joined the search.

“Despite extensive searching on water and by air, the missing man is yet to be located,” Shaw said.

The police national dive squad joined the search this morning, Shaw said.

A Coastguard spokesperson said both Coastguard Raglan and Auckland Coastguard Air Patrol reported good conditions for the search yesterday, with high visibility, a 1 to 2 metre swell and slight SW winds.

“Conditions are very similar today, with Coastguard Raglan currently out on the water supporting Police on the search.”

Metservice meteorologist Dan Corrigan said there wasn’t a cloud in the sky over the Raglan coast yesterday.

“There hasn’t been any weather of note really,” Corrigan said.

Corrigan said southwesterly winds had picked up slightly over the past day, winding down overnight. Windspeeds ranged between a light 10 to 15 knots.

According to MetService’s website, boating conditions at Raglan Entrance today were average, possibly affected by light-fair winds. The website scored boating conditions at a 5 on a 1 to 10 scale with 1 being the most dangerous number.

Police said they would like to hear from anyone who saw the man fishing yesterday or has information that may help find him.

This incident is the second serious rescue emergency off the Raglan coast this month.

On April 11 a brief search was carried out after police got a report about a group of four people needing help in the water off Manu Bay at 6.24pm.

Three people were pulled from the water.

One person was initially unaccounted for, but was later found on rocks by a Coastguard crew member on a rescue jetski.

Resuscitation attempts were unsuccessful and the person died at the scene.

Police said people should contact them on 105 or online at 105.police.govt.nz, using ‘Update report’. Please reference the event number P058513589.

Maryana Garcia is a Hamilton-based multimedia reporter covering breaking news in Waikato. She previously wrote for the Rotorua Daily Post and Bay of Plenty Times.