Fish 0 Posted November 13, 2021 Share Posted November 13, 2021 This doesn't sound good. Very poor vis for searching. An extensive search is underway for a family of five who failed to return from a fishing trip in Kawakawa Bay. Police said they were notified at 9.35pm on Saturday night that the family – one adult and four children aged between 7 to 11 years old – had not returned as expected. The family’s boat was yet to be located after an extensive search began overnight. The boat was described as a 14-foot fibre glass vessel, with an orange hull and white topside, and had a cuddy cabin with a red canopy. Family of five fail to return from Kawakawa Bay fishing trip, extensive search underway | Stuff.co.nz Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fish 0 Posted November 13, 2021 Author Share Posted November 13, 2021 Found at 10 am. Went 'camping', no comms. Refueled at Thames (crossed border?) and were camping in a bay 5km from Kawakawa bay. No VHF. Cell phone flat. Lots of stress for family and volunteers searching. Family who failed to return from fishing trip found safe and well | RNZ News Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fish 0 Posted November 13, 2021 Author Share Posted November 13, 2021 INCIDENT ALERT: At 2156hours last night CNZ Operations Centre (North) was alerted by Police to an overdue vessel. The vessel had left Kawakawa Bay before sunrise that morning along with another vessel for the Waikawau Mussel Farm with 1 adult and 3 children onboard. The other vessel arrived at the mussel farm however the vessel now reported missing failed to arrive. Coastguard Volunteers from Howick Coastguard and Coastguard Maraetai have been assisting Police in the search throughout the night before returning to base shortly before 0600hours this morning. Volunteers onboard Lion Foundation Rescue and Trillian Trust Rescue are now departing Mechanics Bay to continue the search with our search aircraft on stand-by to join the search as soon as the weather allows. If you are heading out today in the area of Kawakawa Bay/Firth of Thames please keep a good look out. Any information can be passed onto Police (call 111 and quote event number P048612270) or Coastguard Radio on *500. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fish 0 Posted November 13, 2021 Author Share Posted November 13, 2021 I think it is extremely irresponsible to go out with kids without taking communications gear. More so that the weather is average, and even more so not telling family / a contact on shore contact they weren't going to be back. I'm a bit angry, and mildly speechless. Could get a good handheld VHF for $200 or less, which is probably what they spent on petrol for the weekend. Let alone bait or soft baits. 1 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jon 360 Posted November 13, 2021 Share Posted November 13, 2021 The biggest crime was crossing into a level 2 area without current Covid tests me thinks 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
alibaba 76 Posted November 14, 2021 Share Posted November 14, 2021 No, the biggest crime is the level of risk, particularly for the children involved. Not to mention about $10,000 worth of fuel expended on the search and the risk of putting searchers out there at night. Pretty poor Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ex Elly 197 Posted November 14, 2021 Share Posted November 14, 2021 Radio reports are saying that they had a VHF, but didn't know how to use it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.