Two people have been rescued in a dramatic operation after a fishing boat ran aground near Dunedin this morning.
The Tamahine struck ground at Taiaroa Head about 7.30am. There are large swells in the area today.
Emergency services rushed to the scene.
A helicopter was scrambled to pick up those on board.
Hato Hone St John sent an ambulance and rapid response vehicle.
Two people have been rescued and are back on land, with one being flown to Dunedin Hospital in a moderate condition.
A second patient was assessed and treated by St John at the scene but did not need to be taken to hospital.
A bystander who said they worked part-time on the boat drove to the scene after seeing reports online.
“It’s a real shame, it was a nice boat ... and now it’s just totalled.”
Otago Regional Council harbourmaster Steve Rushbrook said staff had visited the site this morning, and so far no pollution had been released into the environment.
The council was still waiting to confirm the amount of fuel and hydraulic fluids aboard the boat, he said.
Conditions were too hazardous to get another boat near the grounded vessel to tow it off and effect salvage.
“We just can’t get near it at the moment as it’s on the rocks,” he said.
The boat had largely broken up by 11am, with debris scattered on the rocks and drifting to sea.
Given the high swell, the wooden boat may begin breaking up over the next six to 12 hours. Staff would try to clear debris from the area if they were able to do so safely.
Anyone seeing wreckage or pollution within the harbour should report it to the harbourmaster, ORC advised.
The area above where the boat ran aground, Taiaroa Head, is home to the royal albatross colony, the world’s only mainland breeding site for northern royal albatrosses.
The flight was on its way to Auckland when it was forced to return to Christchurch.