Whistle in the dark alerts yacht to stricken boaties

By LOUISA CLEAVE

A man who had spent 90 minutes treading water in the dark after a boating accident that claimed his companion's life attracted a passing yacht by blowing his lifejacket whistle.

The man and the body of his companion were pulled aboard the yacht off Owhanake Bay, Waiheke Island, at 7.30 last night.

"The man who was still alive saw the yacht lights and blew his whistle and [the yachties] were attracted by that," said Inspector Alan Wright, of the police northern communications centre.

St John spokesman Keith Hall said the men had gone out in a 5m runabout at 1pm but the boat started taking water at 6pm. It sank and the men, both aged about 40 and wearing lifejackets, spent the next hour-and-a-half in the water.

The yacht that picked them up alerted the Coastguard and three vessels were sent to the spot. Coastguard crew on Trillian Rescue tried to revive the dead man with CPR on the way to Matiatia Wharf, said executive director John Cowan.

The Coastguard vessel Grey Bear took his companion to the wharf, where St John paramedics were waiting.

Mr Cowan said it was "extremely lucky they were spotted at all, given it was dark and not a lot of boats were out and about".

He said sea conditions were very good but it would not take a long time in the water before hypothermia started to set in.

Mr Hall said the survivor was suffering from hypothermia but was in a stable condition. He was taken to Auckland on the police launch Deodar and transferred to Auckland Hospital for treatment.