Shells from frigate rock fishermen

Press, 24 March 1988, Page 1

Shells from frigate rock fishermen

Special correspondent Two i Auckland fishermen feared for their lives when shells from a nearby frigate began exploding round their boat in the Hauraki Gulf. : I Mr Gary Brough, arid his son, Mr Michael Brough, (were between Kawau Island and Great Barrier Island on Monday when a 115mip shell from the frigate Wellington pounded into the sea about 100 metres off (their port bow. : . Mr Michael Brough! described last evening how his father dived for their 10-metre boat’s radio just as aj second shell erupted in the water nearby. I!; ' “Dad told Auckland Radio that we had just been shot at twice by the Navy and as he was doing so, the third shell arrived to starboard,” said Mr Brough.’ “A (third one has just landed beside | the bpat,” (Mr Gary

Brough said in his emergency radio call. I ( ( ; | ! ' ‘ “Then the radio | station: made contact with the frigate arid the firing stopped,” said Mr Michael Brough. . . j “It was just like; being in the movies waiting fori the next one to come: in. There was nothing we could; do to move out!of the way. We couldn’t See the (frigate and without; knowing what was happening there was no point in turning one way or the o :her.” Mr Michael Brough was still furious about the incident, “It is still summer out: in the gulf. There are heaps of boats in the area: I saw a I pleasure boat pass about three miles ahead of us only 110 minutes before the firing. | I (( The incident happenec near Anchorite Rock, about rpidway between Kawau arid Great Bar-

rier Islands! jjljj The Navy has confirmed that the incident took place and that an inquiry will be held. Commodore lan Hunter, of the Devonport naval base, said full details would be( sought from the ship when she returned' to port later this week.! He also con-, firmed that (the shells would have contained an explosive cnarse. ;;;; ; “There are explanations that come to mind, but until [we have investigated it fully they are hypothetical. It does not seem that there( will' be aj simple answer.” dll ■ >ll '| Commodore Hunter said the two most j likely explanations were that the shells were not going where they should have, or that the presence of the boat was’ not known to the frigate at the time. • .(id: