Rescuer saw tiny light

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32775, 27 November 1971, Page 3

Rescuer saw tiny light

(N.Z. Press Association) AUCKLAND, Nov. 26. A small light bulb, i used to send a disI tress signal last night, saved two fishermen who had spent nearly 12 hours in their broken-down cabin cruiser south of Kawau Island.

Mr Maxwell Milliner, aged 55, a retired R.N.Z.A.F. group captain, and his son-in-law, Mr Charles Jamieson, both from Henderson, set out on a fishing trip from the Wenderholm Reserve, north of Waiwera, early yesterday morning.

Their boat broke down about three miles off-shore. “We spent all morning

trying to fix it. In the end we decided to anchor and wait,” said Mr Milliner. “We thought somebody was bound to come past and rescue us, but not a soul came near us all day. When it got dark we rigged a light by running a lead from the battery to a bulb which we fixed on the top of the windshield.” “I used a dark cardigan to shield the light and flash an S.O.S. signal. The skipper of the commercial fishing boat Moana spotted us, and came over.” When the two men had failed to return to Wenderholm about 2 p.m. as arranged, a search had been organised. The police launch Deodar and a Coast Guard cutter had searched for several hours, without finding the men.

“We spent most of the afternoon fishing after we couldn’t get the motor going—we caught 40 of 50, so it wasn’t too bad,” said Mr Milliner.

Their boat was towed to the Puhoi River, and left on moorings.