'Critical 10-minute window' for snorkellers' rescue from rock face

Saturday, 17 March 2018

Two hypothermic snorkellers were rescued from a Coromandel Peninsula rock face just before nightfall.

The men had gone snorkelling off the rocks at the Pauanui conservation area, but hadn't returned by 5.45pm and the alarm was raised, a police spokeswoman said.

'There was only about 10 minutes of daylight left by the time the men were located by Coastguard,' said Sergeant Phil Bell of Waikato Police.

They were found around 7.45pm in the Storm Beach area, on the southern side of the conservation area.

A Westpac helicopter, flown by Russell Procter, was called to winch them to safety.

By that stage, the pair had been missing for more than five hours and were both hypothermic.

It was one of the most testing rescues to date for chief Whitianga crewman Mark Cannell, he said in a Facebook post.

Intensive care paramedic Ross Aitken was winched onto a vertical rock face where there wasn't much room for his feet, the post said.

The men were a few metres apart and surrounded by massive swells, and Aitken had to lift them to safety. 

Searchers would have missed a 'critical 10-minute window' to rescue the men if they hadn't told family when they were due back or where they were going, Bell said.

As well as the Westpac Rescue Helicopter, Coastguard and Search and Rescue staff and volunteers were involved in the men's rescue.

The men were airlifted to an ambulance which was waiting for them in Pauanui.

Bell reminded divers and snorkelers to check the tides and water conditions before heading out, to make sure they can get back to shore safely.

Conditions were too rough for the Whitianga Westpac Rescue Helicopter crew to get back to base on Saturday night.

Instead, they were fed by the Tairua Rugby and Sports Club and slept the night at the St John base.