Crew lifted off beached trawler near Manukau Harbour

9.00am

Three fisherman were airlifted from their stranded trawler today after it ran aground on the west coast last night just north of the Manukau Harbour.

The men were lifted off shortly after first light by the Westpac Rescue Helicopter as Manukau Coastguard boats remained on standby just behind the shore break.

Helicopter spokesman Greg Brownson said the fishermen sent out a distress signal last night but could not be lifted off in the dark.

The 15m trawler Poseidon remained stuck bow-on to the beach with its stern being hammered by 2.5m waves.

Manukau Coastguard co-ordinator Ron Rolston said a helicopter crewman was winched down to the boat to assess the situation before the crew were lifted off.

"We have no details as to how it went aground or why. It is structurally sound. It has taken on water because it has gone aground with its bow towards the beach.

"There are about two-and-a-half metre waves coming over the stern and it has flooded the engine room. They were sitting there without any possibility of getting off," he said.

He said the forecast was not bad and the sea state was not expected to worsen today.

The Manukau Coastguard boats were joined by a Kare Kare surf rescue boat and a tug was expected in the area later today.

The three crew members were lifted on to the beach one at a time before the helicopter landed and brought two of the three back to the marine rescue centre in Mechanics Bay on the Auckland waterfront where they were given hot drinks and warm clothes.

The skipper stayed on the beach to co-ordinate salvage efforts but it is believed the trawler may not be salvageable.

The trawler had been at sea for three weeks. It had three tonnes of fish aboard and was heading into port to unload its catch.

The trawler was stuck fast about 50 metres from the beach and by the time the rescue helicopter arrived all three crew members were huddled, wet and cold, in the wheelhouse.

Helicopter crewman Herbie Barnes said paramedic Dean Trump was winched onto the stranded trawler with three strops for the crew.

"It was listing about 45 degrees. Everything looked okay on board, not too much of a mess.

"They had a liferaft deployed just in case they needed to use it. They were huddled up on the bridge."

He said it was too dangerous for the three to attempt a swim to shore through the surf.

"It would have taken a good swimmer to make it to the shore," Mr Barnes said.

- NZPA

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