Latest news with #LeePoolton
NZ Herald
13-05-2025
- General
- NZ Herald
Waikato Regional Harbourmaster warns skippers against dangerous bar crossings
Less than three days earlier, on May 8, two fishermen were rescued in a seven-hour late-night mission after their inflatable vessel was overwhelmed by swells. Bredenbeck said without immediate rescue work by the Raglan Coastguard, both incidents could have 'easily ended in tragedy'. The three adults and one teenager were found 800 metres behind Raglan bar after a Coastguard volunteer reported concerns about a boat attempting to cross at 11.21am. Coastguard said rescue vessel Gallagher Rescue and jet skis Rylock Rescue Oneand Two were launched and at the scene by 11.43am. One jet ski transported the teenager back to Manu Bay for immediate medical attention. Hato Hone St John sent two helicopters, an ambulance and a rapid response unit and transported four patients to Waikato Hospital. Coastguard skipper Lee Poolton said the bar could be dangerous to navigate, as the conditions were 'atrocious' on Sunday 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.' On Thursday, May 8, 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. Both incidents are currently under investigation, the first by Waikato Regional Council and Sunday's incident by New Zealand Police. Reminders for safe bar crossings Bredenbeck said both skippers and passengers were obliged by law to wear a lifejacket at all times of heightened risk such as bar crossings and at all times in vessels 6 metres or less while under way. 'The best time to cross a bar is anytime within three hours before high tide,' Bredenbeck said. 'As a general rule, returning back over the bar is best up to three hours before and one hour after high tide.' Bredenbeck said a bar should never be crossed at low tide or at night.
1News
11-05-2025
- General
- 1News
'Clinging to chilly bin': Three adults and teen rescued in Raglan
Four people have been rescued off the coast of Raglan this morning after being found clinging to a floating chilly bin. One person has been airlifted to hospital in a critical condition. Coastguard Raglan said it was alerted to a boat in distress at 11.21am on Sunday by a fellow Coastguard volunteer member. Rescue vessel Gallagher Rescue and jetskis Rylock Rescue One and Two launched and were on scene by 11.43am. Three adults and one teenager were found floating in the water clinging to a chilly bin. ADVERTISEMENT St John said it responded with two helicopters, one ambulance and one rapid response unit. "Our crews have assessed and treated four patients, one in a critical condition, one in a serious condition, and two in a moderate condition who have all been transported to Waikato Hospital." Coastguard Raglan Gallagher Rescue skipper Lee Poolton said the rescue may not have happened without the volunteer member who alerted them to the situation. 'I truly believe that without the Raglan community and someone alerting us about this so quickly, they could still be out there, and we'd not know. It was that immediate call that made all the difference,' Poolton said. Coastguard said it is understood that only some of those rescued were wearing lifejackets, and no bar watch or trip report had been logged. Poolton said the Raglan bar can be dangerous to navigate, and the conditions were 'atrocious' this morning with an outgoing tide and a two-metre swell. 'At this stage, the vessel has not been located and we suspect it may have sunk." ADVERTISEMENT 'The rest of the Coastguard Raglan crew did a stellar job and acted really quickly and efficiently throughout the rescue.'
