’Copter Rescue From Sea

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31305, 27 February 1967, Page 14

’Copter Rescue From Sea

(New Zealand Press Association)

AUCKLAND, February 26.

After clinging to his upturned boat for three hours in heavy seas off Port Waikato on Saturday afternoon, a Waiuku farmer was rescued by helicopter.

Mr A. W. Wright, aged 55, of 63 Columbo road, Waiuku, and his son, Mr A. B. Wright, aged 28, of Waipipi, had been thrown into the sea after their 16ft boat was swamped and overturned near the bar to the entrance of the Waikato river.

rescue party. Two and a half hours later, he reached the shore.

At his home tonight, Mr Wright said he saw the aircraft circling him as the boat drifted with the tide out to sea.

The helicopter piloted by Squadron-Leader J. C. Buckmaster from Whenuapai R.N.Z.A.F. station, was sent by the Search and Rescue Organisation after a light aircraft from Ardmore aerodrome had sighted Mr Wright clinging to the boat. When the men were hurled into the sea, they began swimming towards the shore. However, Mr A. W. Wright found the swimming too difficult with his life-jacket on so he returned to the boat. His son continued swimming in hope of alerting a

“A line was lowered to me and I fixed it around me. However, when they attempted to haul me from the boat, I splashed back into the water. By two unsuccessful attempts, 4 was beginning to get full of water. I realised this was no good so I secured the rope around my chest and under my arms. I was then lifted about 40-feet into the air and into the helicopter.” The boat, with a 33-horse-power outboard engine, was lost.