Man dies after fishing boat capsizes

A man died early today after the boat he and a friend had gone fishing in capsized in the Firth of Thames.

The 4m aluminium craft overturned 2km offshore about 8.30pm yesterday, and both occupants decided to swim for shore.

After six hours in the water, one of the men made it to land 12km north of Tapu to raise the alarm.

A search was started for his friend, who was found about 300m offshore by Thames coastguard and was brought to shore, but died shortly after.

Senior Sergeant Rex Knight said both men, from Hamilton, were wearing lifejackets.

The man who died still had to be formally identified and his name was unlikely to be released today.

Mr Knight said the man who survived was exhausted and upset, but was well enough to talk to police, who were trying to establish how the boat capsized.

He said conditions yesterday evening were relatively calm, but changed during the course of the night as the pair were trying to swim to safety.

"There was an easterly wind blowing and the tide would have changed," he said.

"That would have been against them and they were at least 2km offshore."

Mr Knight said the overturned boat had been recovered.

- NZPA