Boaties clung to capsized launch for six hours

Four men who clung to their upturned boat as it drifted for nearly six hours off Auckland's west coast yesterday, are recovering from mild hypothermia.

The four, including a 73-year-old man, were crossing the bar at Port Waikato south of the Manukau Heads in their eight metre launch when it capsized and threw them all into the water.

Coastguard spokesman, Dean Lawrence, said the four all wore lifejackets and stayed with the boat as it drifted north.

"They did the right thing there, but the other important thing is that they stayed together."

About 7.30pm they swam ashore at Kariotahi beach and alerted lifesavers who were preparing their inflatable rescue boats for a competition this weekend.

The four were taken to Middlemore Hospital where they were treated for mild hypothermia.

They had been fishing and were returning over the bar about 2pm when the boat capsized.

They were reported overdue at 6pm and the police helicopter Eagle began a search. The Waiuku coastguard launched its rescue boat but the men had made it ashore and the rescue boat turned back.

Mr Lawrence said it was not known if the boat had sunk but said it may drift onto a beach.

- NZPA