A northern Cook Island fisherman waves to a Royal New Zealand Navy plane after being adrift for more than a week. PHOTOS: NZDF

A Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) P-8A Poseidon crew has found a solo fisherman missing for a week in the northern Cook Islands.

The man, in his 4m aluminium skiff, was spotted by the crew yesterday morning, the NZ Defence Force said in a statement.

Nearby fishing vessels had indicated they were able to
pick the man up.

The fisherman had set off from Pukapuka Island, about 1140km northwest of Rarotonga, for a day’s fishing last Thursday, but failed to return.

He was reported overdue to local police the following day and New Zealand’s Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre requested RNZAF help in the search earlier this week.

It was believed he had minimal safety or survival equipment.

The P-8A and crew started the search on Thursday. — Allied Media