One dead, two saved from sea

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33817, 14 April 1975, Page 2

One dead, two saved from sea

Cti.Z. Press Association)

AUCKLAND, April 13. One man died and two others lived a nightmare after a 17ft runabout was swamped three miles off Grahams Beach, in the Manakau Harbour, yesterday.

The dead man was Kelvan John Manning, aged 27, of Weymouth, who was on a fishing trip with two friends when the boat was swamped.

The three men had just pulled up their anchor about 9.30 a.m„ apparently deciding to return from their early morning fishing trip. The seas were rough and the winds high. A large wave broke over the stern of the boat, and was closely followed by several other large waves. Within seconds the runabout was full of water, and wallowing. Then it capsized, and threw the three men — who were all wearing lifejackets — into the sea. While the owner of the boat, Mr D. G. Coxhead, of Manurewa, struck out for

shore, the other two men, Mr Manning and Mr S. L. Davidson, stayed by the upturned boat. Two hours later, Mr Coxhead was still struggling through the rough seas toward shore when he was sighted by a passing boat, picked up, and hurried to Auckland Airport, where the police were called. A search was organised by the police and the Royal New Zealand Air Force. The Civil Aviation hovercraft at the airport, as well as the Papakura Coastguard, were called out shortly after noon. However, it was not until

1.30 p.m. that the two men were rescued. They had spent four hours in the water. Mr Manning had died, and his body was plucked from the water by a line from the helicopter which also rescued Mr Davidson. Mr Davidson was rushed to Middlemore Hospital, where he was in fair condition late tonight. Mr Coxhead was reported to be recovering at his home today. The upturned runabout was' later turned right way up, and towed back to shore, said a police spokesman.