Kayak fisher blown away into darkness
‘‘I was so relieved I just said thank you god’’
Alone in pitch blackness on Lake Taupo, all Amanda WirihanaTauke could do was pray and ask her late parents to guide her home.
The 40-year-old Turangi resident had been stranded on Lake Taupo for several hours on Monday after being caught in rough water and strong winds.
The speed in which she was taken out to the middle of the lake surprised her.
‘‘It just took me away,’’ she said.
‘‘I couldn’t turn the kayak around or anything,’’ she said.
‘‘I was trying to row back to shore but I was just getting further and further away. I couldn’t get anywhere.’’
Wirihana-Tauke said the fear really kicked in when the sun finally set and she completely lost her bearings. ‘‘I couldn’t see land,’’ she said. ‘‘I knew the only thing I could do was stay in the kayak. If I fell out it would be bad so I kept focused on that.’’
Her partner raised the alarm about 8.30pm.
Turangi Coastguard was dispatched to conduct a rescue mission. They had a good idea where Wirihana-Tauke had drifted to but missed her on their first pass.
‘‘I was crying at that point,’’ Wirihana-Tauke said.
‘‘They went past me and I shouted help, help but they couldn’t hear me they went the other way.’’
Desperate Wirihana-Tauke yelled out again and she was relieved to feel a bright light shine on her.
‘‘I was so relieved I just said thank you god,’’ she said. ‘‘I’ve never been so relieved to see a policeman.’’
After being lifted into the rescue boat Wirihana-Tauke said the crew were very kind to her and made her feel comfortable and warm.
‘‘I was just so grateful for everything they did for me and what they do for the community.
‘‘I just want to say thank you to everyone who helped.’’
While Wirihana-Tauke was wearing a life jacket she did not have any form of communication on hand to call for help.
Senior Constable Barry Shepherd said this incident was a good reminder for people to have a means of communication with them.
‘‘Always carry two separate waterproof ways of communication so they can call for help if necessary,’’ he said.