Five coastguard crew rescued after boat hits rocks

Five members of a Northland coastguard boat have been plucked from their damaged craft after they were hurt when it hit rocks on the way to a rescue.

The Tutukaka Coastguard inflatable rescue boat was left damaged but anchored after the five crew members were lifted off by the Northland Emergency Services Trust rescue helicopter.

The rigid-hulled boat was on the way to a callout after a yacht, Indian Summer, radioed for help.

The coastguard vessel hit rocks about 300 metres off shore at the Taiharuru River mouth near Patau South in 30 knots of wind and moderate seas.

The impact sent the five crew members sprawling, all were hurt.

Rescue helicopter pilot Pete Turnbull said the boat appeared to have hit an offshore reef.

"The boat was still floating but anchored and facing into wind.

"You could see the damage to the bow and the inflatable part around the bow."

He said three seriously hurt crew were airlifted off first and taken to Whangarei Hospital.

"The other two decided to remain on board the boat.

"But while we were at the hospital the other two decided they should be airlifted off as well," Mr Turnbull said.

During the second winching the Indian Summer called again and said it was in immediate danger of going ashore at the mouth of the Ngunguru estuary.

Another boat was dispatched from Tutukaka to help the yacht, but it got out of trouble itself.

Coastguard Northern Region operations manager Ray Burge said a boat from Whangarei was sent to recover the damaged Coastguard vessel.

- NZPA