The Pacific Invader brought the body of the fifth person to shore at Houhora. Video / Supplied
The fifth and final missing person has been found dead following the sinking of the fishing charter vessel Enchanter off North Cape on Sunday night.
It is understood the person was found inside the hull, which dive squad members had been assessing this afternoon after it was found yesterday.
The body was returned to shore aboard the Pacific Invader, a sister charter boat to the Enchanter, this evening.
The Pacific Invader brings the body of the fifth person to shore at Houhora this evening. Photo / Adam Pearse
Ten people were on board when the Enchanter sank amid rough seas around 11pm on Sunday. A large wave is understood to have hit the boat near Murimotu Island, breaking the bridge.
Long-time friend Rick Williams caught up with Bright for a beer at his bar the Group One Turf Bar on Tuesday night just before he headed off, and also saw Lovett, who worked at his thoroughbred stud farm.
Richard Bright of Cambridge died in the sinking of the charter fishing vessel Enchanter. Photo / Supplied
It was the second time the pair had gone on a fishing charter to the Three Kings.
"They had been there once and it was Richard's wish to hook a marlin. He hadn't got one. He had caught every other form of fish, so this is why he went again this year to go and get a marlin."
Yesterday was a tough day for the stud farm manager after losing three friends - Bright, Lovett and 43-year-old father-of-three and Te Awamutu builder Mark Sanders - to the ocean. Two other men from Cambridge are also understood to be missing or dead.
Mike Lovett had taken time off from The Oaks Stud in Cambridge to go on the fishing charter. Photo / Supplied
"It was just an unbelievably bad day. I'm not even family and I feel terrible."
He described Bright as "likeable" and said his death was a terrible loss not only to his friends and family, but also the wider Cambridge community to which he gave a lot of money through his bar.
Gael Sanders, mother of Mark, said she heard around 8am on Monday morning that something had happened.
"He had spoken to his family at around 6pm [Sunday] night. He has a wife and three children and was having such a wonderful time and just so happy. He'd caught some amazing fish and it was best time of his life."
The 43-year-old father loved fishing and often fished with his dad in Kawhia, Gael said.
"He just loved his fishing so much," she said.
"The only nice thing is, we're so happy that they've actually found his body. That's very special. I hate to think of him out there on his own. Six o'clock last night, when he spoke to his family and he spoke to the three kids and his wife, he was just so happy and it was just amazing."
