Pair rescued after sinking

Whangarei: Two men had to be rescued from an uninhabited island off the Northland coast after their boat’s engine failed and the vessel sank in rough conditions.

A rescue operation was launched on Sunday night after the pair failed to return to the Mangawhai estuary as planned. When the boat’s engine failed, wind blew them back towards an island and they paddled to shore.

Once they made it to an island, they lit a fire to keep warm — which was eventually spotted by the police Eagle helicopter. The police boat Deodar went to pick them up about 9pm.

The fishermen were cold and wet, neither sustained any injuries. — RNZ