A fisherman who clung to a floating petrol container for seven hours after his boat capsized has been plucked to safety by Coastguard.
Two men were fishing at Waihi in the Hauraki District early this morning when their boat upturned.
Man rescued after clinging to petrol container for 7 hours in Waihi https://t.co/hIQowUITIn pic.twitter.com/mEwtjjvahF
— nzherald (@nzherald) February 13, 2016
One man swam to shore to call for help while the other clung for life to a yellow 20-litre petrol container, waiting seven hours before he was rescued.
The boat was spotted at 6.20am by the Auckland Westpac Rescue Helicopter, and the stricken man in his late 40s was discovered about 200m from the vessel and returned to Waihi for medical assistance.
The rescue helicopter received a call about the missing fishermen from Waikato SAR Police at 5.30am and crew used night-vision goggles to try and track him down.
A Coastguard spokeswoman said the fishermen failed to log a bar crossing with Coastguard, which would have helped them launch the rescue effort sooner.
"It would have prevented the fisherman having to be in the water for so long."
Coastguard Waihi Beach skipper Tim Watts said the fisherman stuck out at sea was not wearing a lifejacket, although there were some on board the boat.
"He had mild hypothermia ... he was very pleased to see us."
Mr Watts said the fisherman tipped over on a bar about 11pm last night.
"One of them got to shore around 3am to raise the alarm. The conditions were not ideal for what they were doing, and their skill level was not up to scratch."
The vessel has been safely returned to Waihi.
