Pair rescued from burning boat in stormy seas

A flare set off from a burning vessel off the Marlborough Sounds last night enabled the rescue of two men in a life raft on stormy seas.

Wellington-based Westpac Rescue Helicopter operations manager Dave Greenberg said night vision goggles had helped helicopter crew spot the flare, and guide a nearby boat to the life raft.

The 37-year-old owner of the boat, from Kaikoura, and a 29-year-old Nelson man were rescued unharmed.

Mr Greenberg said the helicopter was alerted to a Mayday call about 10pm.

Two people had abandoned the fishing vessel Sea Mist for a life raft after it caught alight, about 9.20pm.

Helicopter crew saw the flare about 10 minutes before arriving at Croisilles Harbour where the burning boat was believed to be located and advised another boat in the area.

The two men were rescued from the life raft by the coastguard about 10.50pm.

Westpac Rescue pilot Mike Hall said the two men were lucky another boat was in the area to assist in the rescue.

"It was quite dark and windy and the burning boat would have been our only reference for winching, which would have made a helicopter rescue very tricky," he said.

Police said this morning both men were taken to hospital as a precaution, but had not received any injuries.

The boat was thought to have sunk.

- NZPA