Six rescued from drifting boat

Press, 25 February 1987, Page 8

Six rescued from drifting boat

A runabout with six people aboard which was drifting helplessly in Lyt«telton Harbour was towed to safety by the Navy vessel Kiwi on Monday evening as a strong southerly threatened to blow the runabout out to sea. The runabout had lost its power and steering, had only two lifejackets, and no flares, torch, radio or anchor out Lieutenant-Commander David Thompson said it was only spotted by “sheer luck” as the Kiwi returned from a training exercise with naval reservists about 9 p.m. “It was getting dark at

that stage and we only just saw it,” he said. “We took two women and a child aboard. They were fairly hysterical by that stage,” Commander Thompson said. A fresh southerly had sprung up and threatened to blow the 4m runabout out to sea. There was a danger of exposure to those aboard. The runabout had been drifting for about an hour after a fishing trip and was off Cashin Quay when it was taken in tow to the inner harbour.

Commander Thompson said the runabout was hopelessly unprepared

and was lucky the Kiwi was passing. i The president of the Canterbury Volunteer Coastguard, Mr Garry Freeman, said a recent survey of most ■ small boats using the harbour had shown that most had basic safety equpment although some Jacked flares.

It sounded qsMf the runabout was illpiepared and equipped aid its occupants “foolha’dy,” he said.

Basic safety eqiipment would cover most emergencies, he said, and one lifejacket for each person aboard was essential.