Pair lose everything in sinking

Plate Island in the distance, off the coast of Maketu Island. Photo / Supplied

A couple who were rescued from their boat as it was being blown towards the rocks returned to find it, and all their belongings, had disappeared.

Maketu coastguard Shane Beech said the pair were lucky to escape with their lives following the drama on Saturday night near Plate Island, off the coast of Maketu.

He was called to rescue the couple from their 35 foot motor launch about 7.15pm.

The pair, in their 50s, had just sold their house to buy the vessel which they picked up in Nelson a few weeks ago, he said.

"They sold their house to buy the boat. Everything they owned was on the boat. They got off the boat with the clothes on their back.

It's really tragic. You can't help but feel for them."

The couple had been heading from Nelson to Thames when the weather turned and they decided to take shelter at the nearest island.

They anchored off Plate Island but the anchor did not hold and they found themselves being pushed towards the rocks.

Mr Beech said the boat was only about 10m from the rocks when the coastguard arrived to rescue them.

Heavy rain and swells of up to 3m meant the coastguard rescue team was unable to hook up to the boat and tow it out from the island so the couple decided to abandon ship.

The woman was highly hypothermic and went into shock as soon as she was aboard the rescue vessel, Mr Beech said. The man was in a better condition but both were taken to hospital to be checked after they returned to shore.

Mr Beech took the couple back out to where their boat was last anchored on Monday only to find it was gone.

"Unfortunately the boat has obviously hit the rocks and sunk," he said. "I think they are very lucky to have got away with their lives after the boat sunk, probably that night. We believe it sunk probably within an hour of picking them up off it."

Mr Beech said the man was an experienced boatie.