“Our thoughts are with the family and friends affected by this tragic incident.”
Coastguard's Richardson Rescue vessel later retrieved the capsized boat. Photo / Coastguard
A police spokesperson said emergency services were called to Tararu Rd just before midday, with one person pulled from the water unresponsive.
“Despite emergency medical treatment, they died at the scene.”
A witness who wished to remain anonymous told the Herald the boat, which looked like a small two-person yacht, possibly a Sunburst, had capsized in “choppy and windy” conditions.
“The water was rough and the wind was blowing and they would have capsized,” the witness said.
“Now, under good circumstances, you swim round the other side of the boat when it’s capsized, you stand on the centreboard, put the weight on the centreboard and it pops the sail out of the water and off you go again, but obviously the water was too rough or they didn’t have the weight to bring the boat back up again.
“And the fleet wasn’t sailing, so they were out on their own.”
They said no other boats were in the immediate area, but some bigger boats were coming up the harbour from Thames wharf.
They told the Herald they saw members of the public using an inflatable boat from the yacht club to pull a body out of the water.
Despite the conditions, the witness said it wasn’t unusual to see a smaller boat sailing.
“If you’re a sailor, you want some wind and you want some power and that’s where the power comes from.
“So, it’s a little two-man boat with a jib and a main and the wind makes you crack along.”
A Hato Hone St John spokesperson told the Herald the service sent two ambulances and a rapid response vehicle at midday.
One person in a serious condition was taken to hospital by ambulance.
