A body has been found, and another person remains missing, after their boat was reported overdue in Northland yesterday.
About 9pm, family members called emergency services to report the 17-foot vessel was two hours overdue returning to Pataua South following a fishing trip.
Police said a search began immediately and ran through till 4am, supported by the police Eagle helicopter.
The search was ramped up this morning, and involved police, Land Search and Rescue, volunteers from Coastguard Tūtūkākā, Coastguard Whangārei and Coastguard Air Patrol, the Royal New Zealand Air Force, Auckland Maritime Unit, and members of the community.
Detective Sergeant Paul Overton said search efforts were ongoing to find the outstanding person.
“The boat was spotted by a member of the public and Coastguard Air Patrol quickly attended to confirm it was the missing boat before Coastguard towed it back to shore, however nobody was on board,” he said.
Coastguard was then notified that a person on a jet ski had discovered someone in the water.
Police said that person stayed with the body until it could be recovered by Tutukaka Rescue and returned to shore to meet police.
Northland Coastguard Air Patrol have since returned to base.
Auckland Coastguard Air Patrol have now joined the search for the remaining individual, and both Coastguard Tutukaka and Whangarei have resumed searching.
“While this isn’t the outcome any of us wanted, we remain focused on bringing both people home to their whānau. A large-scale search by sea and air is ongoing, along with searches of the shoreline,” Overton said.
“I would like to acknowledge all of those people involved, including boaties and members of the community who offered their help.”
Coastguard added: “Our deepest condolences go out to the whanāu in what is a heartbreaking situation.
“Our volunteers are deeply committed to doing everything they can to help bring the missing family member home.”
“We are immensely grateful to our volunteers who have spent significant time away from their own loved ones to bring home other loved ones.”
