LOST DIVER HELPS RESCUERS LAND MARLIN

Fear turned to jubilation when a diver rescued after spending a night clinging to rocks at the Three Kings Islands helped his crew mates catch a marlin hours later.

The catch sparked celebrations on the charter vessel after an anxious night for the Wellington man’s family and fishing buddies.

The 67-year-old was reported missing just before 3pm on Saturday after a dive at the Princes group of the Three Kings Islands, 55km northwest of Cape Reinga.

He was on a charter trip with his son and other keen fishers.

Far North Radio, a Doubtless Bay-based volunteer marine radio service, alerted emergency services and other vessels, which started looking for the diver.

Northland police Search and Rescue co-ordinated the search which, as well as private boats, involved the Northland Rescue Helicopter and an Air Force Orion from Whenuapai. The man was spotted about 9.15am on Sunday by another charter boat.

Far North Radio and Sea Rescue president Annette Hall said the response from boaties was immediate. The diver was picked up “miles away” from where he entered the water and taken to another charter boat, whose crew landed a striped marlin as they headed to Whangaroa Harbour.

“The guy who was rescued was leaping around, having the time of his life,” she said. “At that moment all the stress melted away.”

Detective Sergeant Paul Overton, of Northland police Search and Rescue, said the rescue helicopter searched the area for hours on Saturday until it was stood down due to failing light.

A P-3K2 Orion joined the search at 7am Sunday. Police were preparing to send the National Dive Squad and the Defence Force was readying HMNZS Manawanui for use as a dive platform when the man was found.

Police had serious concerns that he could have been washed out to sea by powerful currents.

The operation was greatly assisted by the Defence Force and Far North Radio, Overton said.

“She [Annette Hall] alerted us to the incident in the first place, she did a great job. Annette’s contacts and the community up there were also a wealth of knowledge about the conditions up there.”

The Princes Islands are seven islets west of the Three Kings’ biggest island, Manawata¯whi.