Fishing Boat Capsizes

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31061, 17 May 1966, Page 1

Fishing Boat Capsizes

(N.Z. Press Association) DUNEDIN, May 16. A 16-year-old Port Chalmers youth is believed to have drowned after a fishing boat capsized and sank off Taiaroa head this morning. He was: Raymond Wickliffe Adnan, aged 16, of 31 Albertson avenue, Port Chalmers. Annan, who could not swim, was a crew member of the

Bluff-based Robert H„ skippered by Brian Eckhold, aged 26, of 86 Lagan street. Bluff. He had been aboard the boat for a month. The 38 foot Robert H. was trawling at a popular fishing ground seven miles north-east of Taiaroa Head when a trawl-door snagged on the sea bottom. In attempts to free the line, the boat became beam on to the swell and the pull of the net caused it to capsize. Annan was at the wheel at the time and was thrown clear, but Eckhold was caught in the rigging and had to fight his way to the surface.

When he was clear of the boat he saw Annan beside him trying to take his gumboots off. “I took my jersey off and when I looked again I couldn’t see him,” Mr Eckhold said. He then swam to his boat, which was settling in the water, and climbed on to the keel. When it was about to go under he tucked a fish box and pond board under his arms and leapt into the water. The Venture, of Port Chalmers, picked him up five minutes later. Seven other boats in the area searched for Annan but

were unable to find him. Police said today they held little hope for him. In view of the strong northerly current running at the time a search will be made along the northern coastline in an attempt to find the body. A self-inflating, life raft, which should have been automatically released and opened when the boat reached a certain depth failed to float to the surface. The owners of the boat National Mortgage and Agency Company of New Zealand, Ltd., did not know if the boat which was insured, could be salvaged.