Sick crewman airlifted from trawler

Rescuers this afternoon airlifted a sick fishing boat crewman from a vessel south of New Zealand and began a journey of over 450km back to shore.

The 34-year-old crewman of Japanese trawler Tomimaru 87 was suffering chest pains and had a high temperature, New Zealand Rescue Co-ordination Centre spokesman Steve Corbett said.

He was reported to be in a comfortable condition and would receive specialist care on arrival at Invercargill Hospital this evening.

Mr Corbett said two helicopters were dispatched from Dunedin and Invercargill this morning and made two fuel stops on their way to the trawler, which was in the Auckland Islands area.

The crewman was being looked after by a medic during his 3 1/2 hour trip back to the mainland.

- NZPA