Rescue of injured sailor spans globe

John Masters at Wellington on his way to hospital and surgery for peritonitis. The Essex-based New Zealander's long-held dream of racing round the world is in doubt.

Four aircraft and more than 100 people took part in the life-saving rescue of Global Challenge yachtie John Masters near the Chathams on Sunday.

The 59-year-old adventurer was "doing very well" in Wellington Hospital yesterday, said a spokeswoman.

Mr Masters was due to be transferred from the intensive care unit to a ward after surgery for peritonitis, resulting from internal injuries.

Global Challenge in Britain and the Rescue Co-ordination Centre in Wellington planned the marathon mercy mission over several days.

Insurance is expected to cover the cost, which has still to be tallied.

Mr Masters, a New Zealander living in England and teaching at Essex, was crewing on one of 12 yachts on the 11,000km Buenos Aires to Wellington leg of the round-the-world race.

He took a heavy fall when a rogue wave hit Imagine It Done, and started suffering sharp stomach pains on Boxing Day.

A doctor was on board the yacht, and two other boats, Team Save the Children and Samsung, pulled out of the race temporarily to divert course and provide vital medical supplies to their stricken rival.

With no ships in the vicinity, nothing else could be done until the yacht was close enough to land - in this case the Chatham Islands - for a rescue helicopter to reach Mr Masters.

Dave Greenberg, crew chief for the Wellington-based Life Flight Trust, said the 645km flight to the Chathams was at the Westpac Rescue Helicopter's maximum range. The small airfield did not have enough fuel for the return journey.

On New Year's Eve, a Chatham Islands Convair shuttled 1800 litres of fuel in barrels from Wellington.

The rescue chopper, accompanied by a Vincent Aviation spotter plane, headed to the islands on Saturday afternoon. The yacht was 210 nautical miles away - too far to attempt uplifting Mr Masters in daylight.

Early next morning, the helicopter made its dash and a paramedic was lowered to the yacht in high waves and strong winds.

Back on the Chathams, Mr Masters was transferred to the Life Flight air ambulance for the trip to Wellington. On board was his wife, Lorraine, who had arrived from Britain on Friday. The couple had not seen each other since the race fleet left Portsmouth early in October.

Mr Greenberg, back at work yesterday and still feeling "a bit shattered" from the long rescue operation, was planning to visit Mr Masters in hospital. He said he would also welcome the crew of Imagine It Done when the yacht arrived in Wellington, probably tomorrow.

Mr Masters was "pretty much resigned" to the fact that he might not complete his long-planned sailing trip, Mr Greenberg said, "but who knows, by the time the yachts leave New Zealand on February 6 ... "

Twice-rescued? Let them pay the cost

Two out of three New Zealanders think that outdoor enthusiasts who are rescued more than once should pay the cost themselves, a Herald DigiPoll survey has found.

The tough stance was most popular with people over 60 (83.4 per cent in agreement), New Zealand First voters (81.6 per cent) and Europeans (71.2 per cent).

Most forgiving were 18 to 39-year-olds (57.7 per cent), Green voters (40.4 per cent) and Maori and Pacific Islanders (54.8 per cent).

Men were slightly more generous than women (65 per cent approval compared with 71.5 per cent).

The poll of 1000 people was carried out in November. It has a 3.1 per cent margin of error.