Three people were forced to jump from a sinking boat and swim to safety near Little Barrier Island tonight.
Auckland Westpac Rescue Helicopter flew to help after being told at 6pm a boat carrying three people - described as two adults and one young adult - was sinking, the helicopter trust's communications manager Lincoln Davies said.
"Enroute crew were notified by Coastguard that a boat in the vicinity had picked up ... three passengers from the sinking boat. [They] had swum to the other boat and were wearing lifejackets.
"When the Westpac 1 helicopter arrived, the stricken boat was fully engulfed in flames."
