Three fishermen rescued

Press, 21 April 1986, Page 4

Three fishermen rescued

PA Wellington Three Wanganui fishermen were rescued from a liferaft off the Wairarapa coast last evening after their trawler caught fire and sank.

The fishing boat Petra sent a Mayday call at 3.10 p.m. saying the boat was on fire about 50km off the coast east of Uriti.

The crew, Tony Gupwell, Michael Tunnell and Michael Wick, abandoned into a liferaft.

A helicopter from Masterton began searching for the raft and at dusk a full search was begun.

Two aircraft joined the search and an Air Force plane was put on stand-by

but the raft was spotted off the coast just before 6 p.m.

Two of the men were lifted by helicopter and flown to Riversdale. Constable Keith Allen was winched to the raft and stayed with the third man until they were picked up by the Union Rotorua, which was diverted to help in the search, about 7.30 p.m.

. Constable Allen and the fishermen remained aboard the Union Rotorua, which was heading for Auckland.

All three rescued men were safe and well and did not require medical attention, said Constable Dave Bahler of Masterton.