Waiheke Island drowning: One dead, one rescued after boat capsizes

A person has died and another was taken to hospital after a boat capsized off Auckland’s Waiheke Island last night.

A rescue operation began about 7.20pm, with the Westpac rescue helicopter and police Eagle helicopter standing by as the Trillian Trust Rescue boat plucked two people from the water in Whites Bay, a coastguard spokesperson said.

Volunteers immediately got to work providing medical help to the two people, one of whom has since died.

The other person was taken to hospital for observation.

The Waiheke coastguard was working to recover the capsized boat.

Police said the death had been referred to the coroner.

The incident came soon after the death of 48-year-old South Auckland man Lee Douglas Perry, who was found dead in the water off Waiheke Island on November 15.

Detective Senior Sergeant Chris Allan said Perry had travelled to Waiheke Island earlier in the week for work.

Lee Douglas Perry, 48, from South Auckland was found dead near Waiheke Island on November 15.

His burned-out car was found 14 kilometres away from his body. Police initially said they were treating his death as “unexplained” but said last week that it was no longer considered suspicious and they were making inquiries on behalf of the coroner.

The investigation into how his car crashed and burned continues. Police said they were treating that and his death as separate incidents.

Rachel Maher is an Auckland-based reporter who covers breaking news. She has worked for the Herald since 2022.