The LPC Pilot boat assists divers near the cruise ship
Volendam which lost two crew members overboard at Cashin
Quay, Lyttelton, Christchurch. Credit:NZPA / David
Alexander.
A lifeboat is still dangling off the side of a cruise
ship, moored at Christchurch's Port Lyttelton, after a cable
broke sending two crew members into the water, with one of the
men presumed drowned.
Divers are searching the water for the 32-year-old man who
fell overboard the Volendam, the Holland-American line cruise
ship, this afternoon.
The other crew member managed to use a bucket to stay afloat
and was rescued, Garden City Helicopters general manager
Simon Duncan told NZPA.
Both men were wearing heavy clothing, overalls and boots but
no lifejackets, he said.
"It appears that one of the cables has let go at one end...it
(the lifeboat) is dangling there by one cable at the moment,"
he said.
St John spokesman Ian Henderson told NZPA a man had been
recovered and suffered no major injuries.
A police dive team was called in to search for the second
crew member, he said.
The accident happened some time before 2pm.
Police were unavailable for comment.
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