Men saved near Lake Onoke: [3 Edition]

Abstract

Two men were saved from the sea off Lake Onoke in the Wairarapa during a dramaticsearch and rescue early today.

Inspector Janette Smidt, of Wellington police, said the men's 4m fibreglass boatbroke down and overturned, drifting more than 500m into open seas. She said the men,who were retrieving a net, were not wearing lifejackets.

Two men were saved from the sea off Lake Onoke in the Wairarapa during a dramaticsearch and rescue early today.

Inspector Janette Smidt, of Wellington police, said the men's 4m fibreglass boatbroke down and overturned, drifting more than 500m into open seas. She said the men,who were retrieving a net, were not wearing lifejackets.

The WestpacTrust rescue helicopter plucked a 70-year-old man to safety and a 47-year-oldswam ashore.

"The WestpacTrust rescue helicopter located the elderly man clinging to the hullof the vessel," Ms Smidt said. "The majority of the vessel was submerged at the time. . . he started to sink so the rescue there was very timely."

He was taken ashore and his companion was picked up further down the beach.

WestpacTrust rescue helicopter crew chief Dave Greenberg said calm conditions helpedthe search. However, he suggested the situation could have been worse for the olderman had he been in the water any longer.

"If he would have let go of that rope . . . he would have just sunk. He was fullydressed in street clothes and it's a timely reminder to wear lifejackets," Mr Greenbergsaid.

Both men were treated at the scene by ambulance paramedics and taken to MastertonHospital.