Four people were rescued from where they clung to a chilly bin off the Raglan coast this morning.
One of the people rescued has been airlifted to hospital in critical condition.
The three adults and one teenager were found after a Coastguard volunteer reported a boat attempting to cross the Raglan bar.
The volunteer was concerned it didn’t make it across safely.
The Coastguard said rescue vessel Gallagher Rescue and jetskis Rylock Rescue One and Two launched and were on the scene by 11.43am.
“Three adults and a teenager were found clinging to a floating chilly bin and were transported back to shore, where two received immediate medical attention from Hato Hone St John Ambulance crew.”
One jetski transported the teenager back to Manu Bay for immediate medical attention.
Rescue vessel Gallagher Rescue, with six volunteers onboard, arrived at the scene and transported the remaining three back to shore.
Hato Hone St John sent two helicopters, an ambulance and a rapid response unit.
“Our crews have assessed and treated four patients total from this incident.”
One person was in a critical condition, one in a serious condition and two in a moderate condition.
All patients were transported to Waikato Hospital.
Coastguard Raglan Gallagher Rescue skipper Lee Poolton said the four people were located about 800 metres behind the bar.
“I truly believe that without the Raglan community and someone alerting us about this so quickly, they could still be out there, and we [wouldn’t] know,” Poolton said.
“It was that immediate call that made all the difference.”
It’s understood that only some of those rescued were wearing lifejackets, and no Bar Watch or Trip Report had been logged with Coastguard.
Poolton said the Raglan bar can be dangerous to navigate, and the conditions were “atrocious” out there this morning with an outgoing tide and a 2-metre swell.
“At this stage, the vessel has not been located and we suspect it may have sunk.
“The rest of the Coastguard Raglan crew did a stellar job and acted really quickly and efficiently throughout the rescue.”
Last week, two fishermen were rescued in a seven-hour late-night mission near Whale Bay.
Coastguard Raglan president Wally Hawken said the men’s inflatable vessel became submerged by swells on Thursday night.
“The men were found stranded on rocks, cold and showing signs of hypothermia.”
By 12.04am, both men were safely airlifted back to Raglan and reunited with family.
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