Crayfisher lost after boat tips

Two friends whose boat capsized off the New Plymouth coast made a joint decision to swim to shore – only one made it.

The 18-year-old who didn’t make it to the beach remains missing after their boat over-turned near Paritutu Rock about 500 metres off Back Beach about 6.30am yesterday.

A massive search and rescue operation was launched after the missing man’s friend was able to reach a car park and let a member of the public know what happened, about 9.20am.

Police believe the youth was not wearing a lifejacket, although there were four available on the 5.3-metre aluminum dinghy the pair were in when they headed out to check their craypots.

Acting area commander Senior Sergeant Thomas Mcintyre said the men had made the tough decision to swim for it from near the Sugar Loaf islands, just south of Port Taranaki.

‘‘Whilst they have been swimming to shore the missing male, who is aged 18 years old, has been struggling and the first male has thrown him a lifejacket.

‘‘It is unknown if the missing male has been able to get that lifejacket,’’ Mcintyre said.

The 26-year-old made it ashore and received serious injuries to his arms and legs but was able to raise the alarm.

‘‘Due to the surf he has sustained some injuries on the rocks and has injured his arms and legs,’’ Mcintyre said.

The injured man was taken to Taranaki Base Hospital where he is under observation in the high dependency unit in a serious but stable condition.

Police had briefly spoken to the survivor, he said.

‘‘It has been a traumatic event for him as well. He has swam a long way to get to shore in trying conditions and that’s a miracle in itself.’’

Mcintyre said Port Taranaki’s pilot vessel, the Taranaki rescue helicopter, surf lifesavers in two rescue boats, Cape Rescue and a fishing vessel were all involved in the search.

Mcintyre said deteriorating weather weather conditions had hampered the search and as time went on hopes of finding the missing youth alive were fading.

He said the missing youth’s family were devastated and were being supported by police.

The search, which extends from the Waiwhakaiho River mouth in the north to Oakura in the south, continued all day yesterday and would resume again this morning before being reassessed.

‘‘The currents off Paritutu, they change as the tides change so at the moment they are heading south; as the tide changes we expect the current to turn and move back towards the north.’’

Surf reports for Back Beach showed 1.6m swells and a sea temperature of 14 degrees Celsius.

There were moderate northeasterly winds recording 25 knots offshore. Rain was also expected.