PLANES AID RESCUE

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31563, 28 December 1967, Page 1

PLANES AID RESCUE

An 18ft cabin cruiser which had been adrift for two hours and a half north of Motunau yesterday afternoon with four on board was taken in tow by a fishing launch only 50 yards from rocks on the rugged coastline. Mr N. W. Mclntosh, of 37 Wairoa Street, Christchurch, owner of the pleasure craft, the Mayway, fired red flares and waved red rags tied to oars as she drifted towards the coast, seven miles north of Motunau Beach.

He attracted the attention of the pilots of two private aircraft flying down the coast to Christchurch. Mr S. M. Marker, of Belfast, flying an Auster, and Mr C. Tucker,

of Wanganui, flying a Cessna 130, circled low over the drifting launch.

Mr Marker radioed the Christchurch Airport control tower at 1.8 p.m., giving his position and the plight of the launch, the engine of which had broken down. Mr Marker then flew on to Christchurch as his fuel was running low.

Mr Tucker saw a fishing boat the Nan, in the area, and this information was radioed to the airport. In the meantime, the Christchurch police had been alerted, and a search-and-rescue effort was under way.

Mr Tucker circled the Nan, owned by Mr E. Pooley, of Motunau,

waggling the wings of his aircraft and finally attracting the attention of her crew. He guided the Nan towards the drifting Mayway. He informed the Christchurch Airport that the launch appeared to have an anchor out, and that the anchor was holding.

The airport was informed at 2.17 p.m. that the Mayway was under tow and that all was well. The launch was towed back to Motunau Beach. Mr Mclntosh’s son, Donald, aged 18, was also aboard. The other passengers were Wing Gin, aged 18, of 24 Cecil Street, Christchurch, and Robert Davison, aged 14, of 92 Bassett Street, Christchurch.