Woman aids rescue with telescope

Heather Van Sembeek with the telescope she used to guide the Westpac rescue helicopter. Photo / Martin Sykes

Police have praised a woman who used her telescope to guide Auckland's Westpac rescue helicopter through darkness to a man stranded on his broken-down boat in the Manukau Harbour.

Heather Van Sambeek was sitting in her Aldersgate Rd home in Hillsborough when she heard the Westpac rescue helicopter hovering overhead and saw it sweeping the harbour with spotlights about 10.45pm on Sunday.

When the helicopter moved away, Mrs Van Sambeek could see a light on an area she knew was mudflats and wondered if it was coming from a missing boat, so she called 111.

Believing Mrs Van Sambeek was looking at a Coast Guard boat, the team answering the call didn't at first realise the significance of her phonecall.

But they quickly called her back and, using communications with the helicopter crew, Mrs Van Sambeek was able to direct the team who landed nearby to get the uninjured man.

The man, a Pacific Islander who had recently bought the boat, was delivered to his family at a nearby Mangere boat ramp, damp and cold but otherwise in good spirits.

"It was very exciting," Mrs Van Sambeek said. "I was happy to help."

Rescuers said although the man was not in immediate danger, Mrs Van Sambeek's efforts sped up his rescue.

"She did a great job," said Sergeant John Saunders of the police maritime unit.

Mr Saunders said the man and a companion had been fishing since 7am. The companion swam to safety after the boat broke down around midday and hitchhiked to raise the alarm - but not until about 10pm.

Rescuers don't know why it took so long to raise the alarm but said the event was symptomatic of the naivete they regularly saw on the water.

"Because of the economic situation and rising unemployment, there are probably going to be even more people going out in hunter-gatherer mode [so] they can supplement their diet and income," Mr Saunders said.

"Unemployed people can't afford flare packs and lifejackets - they don't prioritise their safety enough and end up in crappy old boats that shouldn't be at sea ... it's a concern."