Boaties' screams raise alarm on beach

By JULIET ROWAN

Few hopes were held for the survival of a man last seen clinging to an overturned dinghy off Whangaparaoa Peninsula last night.

Police were alerted to the man's disappearance by residents of Matakatia Bay who heard screams for help coming from the water near Kotanui Island, about 1km offshore, at 6.30pm.

A search involving police, coastguard and the Westpac Rescue Helicopter found two other men clinging to the capsized 3.7m dinghy about 7.30pm, police said.

But there was still no sign of the missing man when the search was called off at 10pm, despite the police Eagle helicopter scanning the area with infrared equipment.

A Matakatia Bay resident said she heard the men crying "Help, help, help us" from her house at the north end of the beach.

She ran to the shore with a flashlight, hoping the men would see the beam and know help was on its way. She could not see the dinghy from the beach.

Other residents were also down on the shore.

Some launched boats in the direction of the screams, despite the tide being out and it being difficult to get craft into the water.

The woman said the calls for help went on for about half an hour until the rescue helicopter arrived. "It was very distressing."

The two rescued men were located by the Westpac helicopter and picked up by a Gulf Harbour Marina security guard in a dinghy, Inspector Darroch Todd of police northern communications said.

They were taken to North Shore Hospital suffering from hypothermia.

The missing man, wearing blue jeans and a woollen jersey, was swept away before help could arrive, Inspector Todd said.

None of the men was wearing lifejackets.

Police were to resume the search, which was carried out in clear, calm conditions, this morning.

The police dive team had been notified and would be joining the effort.

Karl Koller, duty officer for coastguard northern regions, said the chances of the missing man being found alive were slim.