Bluff - Water Rescue

At about 7.30 p.m. on Wednesday the 14th March 2012 the fishing boat ''Easy Rider'' sailed from Bluff with three crew and six passengers who were going to be dropped off on the Mutton Bird Islands at the Great South Cape.

The boat failed to make a rendezvous with a Helicopter at approximately 2.00 p.m. on Thursday the 15th March 2012 and Police were subsequently notified by the helicopter pilot.

A Police search and Rescue operation was mounted and a survivor was plucked from the sea around Bishops and Clerk Islands, to the west of Stewart Island at approximately 6.11. p.m.

The survivor was spoken to by Police on his arrival at Southland Hospital and said at about 12.03. a.m. on the 15th March 2012 he was on the deck of the boat with 2 others when it was hit by a rogue wave causing the boat to capsize almost immediately.

At this time he said the rest of the passengers were in the wheel house of the boat.

The survivor was able to pull himself up onto the hull where he remained for approximately two hours before the boat sank.

The operation included 2 Coastguard vessels, 5 local vessels, 3 helicopters, one fixed wing aircraft, and Marine Radio. Police scaled back the operation at midnight and are planning on starting again at 6.30. a.m. in the morning.