The bodies of the three men from a fishing boat missing off the East Coast have been found on the shores of Māhia this morning.
“Formal identification is ongoing, but they are believed to be the fishermen reported missing on Monday,” a police spokesperson said.
Earlier, two of them were spotted alive in huge seas yesterday.
The staff at Maritime NZ and its Rescue Coordination Centre this morning extended their thoughts and condolences to those impacted by the tragic events off Gisborne.
RCCNZ general manager Justin Allan said it was a difficult and complex search and rescue operation.
”Weather conditions in the area were severe, and rescuers went right to their limits to get to the area we received reports the people in the water were, confirm their location and attempt to remove them from the sea.
”Responders from the region, as well as rescue aircraft sourced from across the North Island had to battle atrocious conditions; including swells of up to and at times more than six metres, 50-knot winds and low visibility, showing how determined they were to reach the men in the water.
”Unfortunately, the sea and weather conditions were too severe.”
One of the missing men was named last night as Elwood Higgins, as tributes for the lost fishermen were posted online by anxious loved ones.
A relative of one of the missing men made an emotional plea for her brother to be found.
“Come on my brother, [I am] breaking into pieces over here listening to this storm kicking in. Feeling sooo exhausted, scared and helpless,” she said.
“[I have] already been through enough heartbreak for this lifetime. Make your way home to us and bring your mates home with you too xx.”
“Atrocious weather conditions” hampered the desperate search last night, more than 24 hours on from when authorities were told a vessel had not returned to port in Gisborne just before 4pm on Monday, Maritime New Zealand said.
A Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) Boeing P-8 Poseidon dropped a life raft in the area where the men were last seen by a bulk carrier off the coast of Māhia just after 4pm yesterday.
Coastguard, rescue helicopter trusts, Napier Harbour Tugs, the Defence Force and volunteering vessels were involved in the mass search operation.
Yesterday’s search was suspended about 7pm with an expectation it would resume at first light this morning. Rescuers examined drift patterns throughout the night and ensured enough resources were ready to continue the search.
Two of the men, aged between 30 and 40, were spotted in the water south of Gisborne by crew on the African Tiger.
However, the crew could not rescue the pair due to the dangerously difficult weather conditions, RCCNZ manager Justin Allan said.
“The vessel attempted to provide the men with any available rescue materials they could throw overboard including life rings and flotsam.” Allan said.
The African Tiger’s crew then lost sight of the two men.
The president of the Tatapouri Sports Club Roger Faber said he understood two of the survivors had been seen clinging to life rings.
Eastland Rescue Helicopter Trust chairman Patrick Willock knew two of the men who he said were experienced and resourceful.
“They are experienced, they are resilient, and you know, when I heard it was them I was in shock,” Willock said.
“But you know, they’re very tough. They’re the sort of guys who would be thinking quickly on their feet.
“Let’s say they’ve been in there over 24 hours now. They’ll be exhausted.
“All of us are just thinking of the families and just hoping for the best, hoping that a miracle will happen.”
The last known communication of the missing boat was with another vessel before 10am on Monday when it was about 20km offshore.
It’s understood the crew planned to head towards Māhia to catch bluefin tuna.
Faber raised the alarm when the boat failed to return to shore on Monday afternoon.
“We’ve got very heavy fog, heavy rain, inshore and offshore, the nor’easter is blowing very strong, it’s predicted to get a lot worse this morning ... up to 50 knots with 8m seas,” he said yesterday.
“There’s no way that they’re putting anyone to sea to do a search in those conditions.”
The whānau of the three men were down by the boat ramp in Gisborne’s inner harbour, Faber said.
“They’re all coming back to the fishing club for a coffee, and it’s really just a matter of sitting with fingers crossed, hoping for some good news.”
