Five members of a Northland coastguard boat have been plucked from their damaged craft after they were hurt when it hit rocks on the way to a rescue.

The Tutukaka Coastguard inflatable rescue boat was left damaged but anchored after the five crew members were lifted off by the Northland Emergency Services Trust rescue helicopter.

The rigid-hulled boat was on the way to a callout after a yacht, Indian Summer, radioed for help.

The coastguard vessel hit rocks about 300 metres off shore at the Taiharuru River mouth near Patau South in 30 knots of wind and moderate seas.

The impact sent the five crew members sprawling, all were hurt.

Rescue helicopter pilot Pete Turnbull said the boat appeared to have hit an offshore reef.

"The boat was still floating but anchored and facing into wind.

"You could see the damage to the bow and the inflatable part around the bow."

He said three seriously hurt crew were airlifted off first and taken to Whangarei Hospital.

Advertisement"The other two decided to remain on board the boat.

"But while we were at the hospital the other two decided they should be airlifted off as well," Mr Turnbull said.

During the second winching the Indian Summer called again and said it was in immediate danger of going ashore at the mouth of the Ngunguru estuary.

Another boat was dispatched from Tutukaka to help the yacht, but it got out of trouble itself.

Coastguard Northern Region operations manager Ray Burge said a boat from Whangarei was sent to recover the damaged Coastguard vessel


http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10559917

Yes woops indeed. I dont know alot about this incident but from what I hear it happened early this morning possibly before day light.
I hear 2 of the guys have been shifted to Auckland hospital and are in a serious condition.
I really hope they will all be OK. These guys are volunteers who give up work, family and sleeping time to not only help out people in life threatening situations, but also people who run out of fuel or break down. And they do it all for nothing.

I have seen the direct result of a small vessel hitting rocks at speeds a lot slower than the RV would have been travelling at and it was not pretty for the crew or the boat.

Hi guys, I have heard a little more about this incident.
The news isnt all that great for a couple of the crew. They are both in at Middlemore hospital at the moment, one with head and the other with facial injury's. They will obviously be taking time off work to recover.

If you would like to help them out with a donation you can.
ASB Eastridge 12 3047 0089907 -00 reff Tutukaka

Remember these guys are volunteers who sacrifice their personal time to help out others on the water like all of you.

30 knots and moderate seas???????

It was more like 45 knots and shitty as hell seas. We got a call from the coastguard at 6.30am asking if Shadowfax would go and help the coastguard boat. After looking out the window and seeing how bad the seas were I spoke to Skipper Richard and we decided it was way too rough and would likely involve more casualities-Cats are notoriously bad in heavy seas.

The people involved were all local and known to us. I have heard a few things but as they are second hand reports i will not pass them on untill they have been verified. There have been v serious injuries to some of the crew though.

All at PK Divers wish them a speedy recovery and admire the bravery and attitude of these volunteers, without which our coastlines would be a much more dangerous place.