Flare is prime reason for rescue of sunken yacht crew
19/07/2023
Setting off a flare was a prime reason for three men being saved by a helicopter crew after their yacht sank in New Zealand.
The yacht sank near Poor Knights Islands, one day in July, reports the New Zealand Herald.
Helicopter pilot-in-command Lance Donnelly says the crew were found quickly because they set off a flare and had a locator beacon.
A Northland Rescue Helicopter crew arrived at the scene but had to use hand signals as the radio did not work.
A winch swimmer in a liferaft and the three men were transferred to the liferaft and winched aboard the helicopter. They were taken to Whangārei, where health checks were carried out.
The image of Poor Knights Islands, by Peter Southwood, is from Wikimedia and is reproduced under CreativeCommons.
