Two major water rescue operations off the Otago coast last month were difficult and unusual, but were handled well, a debriefing meeting has been told.
Dunedin police search and rescue head Senior Sergeant Brian Benn said the rescue of 10 French sailors from their trimaran Groupama 3 145km off the coast of Otago on February 18, and the rescue of a 44-year-old Milton man from an upturned boat at Taieri Mouth on February 3, were the type of rescues that only happened about once every five years.
Representatives from Dunedin's Water Rescue Squad, police, marine search and rescue, divers, two French sailors and Keith Allen, from the Rescue Co-ordination Centre in Wellington, attended last week's debrief.
Snr Sgt Benn said the rescue of a boatie, Shane Hale, at Taieri Mouth was difficult.
Mr Hale thought he was taking his last breath many times. He could not get out of the hull because a narrow door was blocked by a fish bin.
He was stuck inside the boat for 50 minutes before being rescued.
The rescue crews had several options, including cutting through the hull, lifting it with a helicopter, getting a water rescue squad member inside, or pumping oxygen into the hull.
They chose to fly in a commercial diver, who went into the boat and helped Mr Hale out.
Snr Sgt Benn said the water rescue squad would look at training its members to the same standard as dive instructors, so they could help out in a similar situation.
The winch rescue of 10 French sailors was also unusual but was made easier because of the fact they were dealing with professional sailors, who did not panic, he said.
‘‘They were pretty comfortable and had the right equipment,'' he said.
Despite the capsizing, the trimaran was dry inside and the crew had supplies to last weeks, Snr Sgt Benn said.
Three helicopters were used to winch the sailors off the yacht and fly them back to land.
The French sailors would not have to pay for their rescue, he said.
It was an international understanding that foreign sailors rescued within a country's marine area did not have to foot the bill.
