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Seven dead and one missing after boating accident in New Zealand Seven dead after fishing boat sinks in 'national tragedy' for New Zealand
(about 4 hours later)
Seven people are dead and another is missing after a fishing boat capsized near Auckland in New Zealand. Seven people have died and another remains missing presumed dead after a fishing boat capsized near Auckland in an incident that New Zealand police have described as a “national tragedy”.
The Francie charter boat capsized mid-afternoon on Saturday in the Kaipara harbour, north-west of Auckland, according to New Zealand police. The Francie charter boat capsized mid-afternoon on Saturday in the Kaipara harbour, north-west of Auckland, with 11 people on board.
An emergency rescue mission was underway by 3.30pm, involving police, search and rescue services and local surf life-saving teams from nearby Muriwai beach. The 12-metre vessel got into difficulties while attempting to cross a treacherous sand bar on the way back to port, triggering a huge rescue operation involving police, coastguard and local surf life-saving teams.
The Francie, a 12-metre-vessel that was carrying 11 people, got into difficulties while attempting to cross a treacherous sand bar in the Kaipara Harbour. One member of the fishing party survived by swimming to shore while two others were plucked to safety by helicopter.
Three people were rescued from the water by the Westpac Rescue Helicopter, and police confirmed they are now in hospital, though could not comment on their status. But rescuers were unable to save other passengers and five bodies were recovered in the first couple of hours of the search, police said. Two more bodies were found overnight and one person remains missing, presumed dead, police said. One of the victims was the boat’s skipper and owner, Bill McNatty.
Witnesses told Television New Zealand that rescuers in helicopters plucked the survivors from the water and placed them on a beach, where locals kept them warm until ambulances arrived. Speaking at a media conference on Sunday, Auckland police inspector Mark Fergus said: “Three survivors went to hospital and have been discharged and are recovering with the family. An investigation is underway, on behalf of the coroner.
During search and rescue efforts last night five bodies were recovered, and another two bodies were found in the early hours of this morning washed up on local beaches, police said. “We will be assessing if their is any culpability of anyone involved. This is a national maritime tragedy.”
All are believed to have been passengers onboard the sunken Francie, the debris of which has begun washing up onshore. Tony Walles, a local charter boat operator, said he heard a call from McNatty on the VFX radio about 2.30pm on Saturday, saying he was attempting to cross the bar and he expected it would take one hour.
A search began at 7am for the final passenger of the Francie, missing since the capsizing, and now in the water for more than than 18 hours.
The fate of the skipper and owner of the boat, Bill McNatty, is unknown.
Local Kaipara man and charter boat operator Tony Walles said he heard a call from McNatty on the VFX radio about 2.30pm on Saturday, saying he was attempting to cross the bar and he expected it would take one hour.
Walles said sea conditions at the time were rough, and getting progressively worse, with sea swells rising to 3-4 metres.Walles said sea conditions at the time were rough, and getting progressively worse, with sea swells rising to 3-4 metres.
None of the other five boats in the harbour attempted the crossing, he said.None of the other five boats in the harbour attempted the crossing, he said.
“I am feeling very sad for the people who have departed.”“I am feeling very sad for the people who have departed.”
Inspector Willi Fanene of Auckland police said everyone on the boat apart from the skipper was of Pacific Island nationality – four from Tonga, one from Samoa, and one Cook Islander. The missing person was believed to be a Cook Islander.
“This is a terrible tragedy for the fishing community and particularly hard for the Pacific Island community,” he said. “Officers have been assigned to each of the eight families. Grief will be shared through the pacific community, but also by all New Zealanders.”
Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga, New Zealand’s minister for Pacific peoples, said the loss would be felt across the region.
“My prayers and deepest sympathies are with the families who now face Christmas without their fathers, husbands and sons. This was a group of friends who liked to go fishing together from time to time.”