Auckland water rescue: One dead, one missing after boat capsizes off Clarks Beach

Locals have flocked to the water at Clarks Beach during the incident. Photo / Benjamin Plummer

One person is dead and another is missing after a boat capsized near Clarks Beach in Auckland’s Manukau Harbour on Sunday night.

Two other people made it to shore while a third was plucked from the water by rescuers aboard the Eagle helicopter. All three patients were transported to Middlemore Hospital.

Police said they received a report that a boat with five people on board had capsized at around 7pm, Inspector Jason Homan said.

Two rescue helicopters, the Eagle helicopter, and the airport hovercraft all assisted with search efforts.

The Coast Guard confirmed it had two boats in the water, manned with volunteers assisting police with search efforts.

Earlier, Rachael Speedy, a local who had been coordinating rescue efforts on social media, said they were helping people who had got out of the water - saying those they were “doing much better now”.

The owner of a local bed and breakfast said he saw Auckland Airport’s hovercraft helping with search efforts. The Coast Guard was turning down locals’ offers to assist in the search, the man said.

Another eyewitness described seeing two women “running up the beach that had just been in the water”.

Three jet skis were also assisting with search efforts.

The boat has been recovered by Coastguard.

Police and emergency services are still at Clarks Beach.