A fisherman swept off rocks north of Raglan at Crayfish Point (Otehe) has been rescued by a boatie. the incident took place at 1412 hours, after falling from the rocks he was taken into the tide and then caught in a rip. The boatie responded to the distress relay issued by Coastguard Radio by heading to Crayfish Point and helping the man who had been in the water for 30 minutes onto their vessel.
He was later transferred to Coastguard’s Gallagher Rescue boat which then returned with the patient to Raglan Harbour. He was taken to Raglan on the boat and given minor medical assistance.
Emergency services were told about the incident by a person who saw the man swept away shortly before 2pm on Saturday 12th, Waikato District Command Centre Senior Sergeant Peter van de Wetering said.
The Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter and Coastguard were sent but the member of the public, who was on land, had managed to attract the attention of a boatie who rescued the man.
Crayfish Point (Otehe) is a remote spot several kilometres north of Raglan. It is the northern boundary for the Raglan Coastguard.