Lensman captures drama of storm near-tragedy
OWHIRO BAY was the scene of a dramatic rescue in the middle of a storm on December 12, 1982, as the Taiwanese squid boat Yung Pen, with 16 people on board, was wrecked.
Evening Post photographer Nicholson was called out to the early that Sunday morning.
He did not realise how serious the situation was, but he soon found plenty of drama for his camera.
‘‘I was faced with a lot more than expected.’’
By Wellington was not that bad.
But the boat was in trouble. It was dragging its anchor and far too close to the shore in heavy seas. ‘‘It wasn’t particularly rough but I think it was the captain’s fault,’’ Nicholson said.
The Yung Pen, which was heading to Wellington for licensing, was seen battling off Owhiro Bay by residents early in the morning.
The crew lost their battle with the weather and were driven on to the rocks about 8am.
Boat owners ran to get their little dinghies and try to help out as Nicholson arrived at the scene.
‘‘There was a bit of disbelief that a ship was going down in front of their eyes. And it was a pretty eerie experience, watching . . . I’d never witnessed a ship going down like that.’’
He took hundreds of photos over the next few hours.
Police called in renowned pilot Peter
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the John scene
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storm Button in his rescue helicopter to get the crew ashore. It hovered low over the wreck and winched nine of them to safety – scenes captured by Nicholson for the following day’s paper – before the Yung Pen tipped over on its side.
The rest of the crew had to jump for it. Thankfully, there were plenty of locals with boats on hand, with the police launch Lady Elizabeth standing off the shore as well.
The crew, fetched out of the water, were taken on to dry land. One was treated for hypothermia. Two more were scooped up by Button, flying low over the scene, and carried ashore. All the crew escaped with their lives. ‘‘Peter did a great job . . . I had a few hairy rides with Peter over the years,’’ Nicholson remembered.
Camera-shy, unable to speak English and bewildered, the crew were given blankets and hot drinks before being bussed back to the city.
Nicholson remembers the day as one of the standouts of more than 30 years with The Evening Post.
His shot of the helicopter low over the wreck won him Qantas Media Awards that year for best single photograph and was part of his winning overall news portfolio.
The Yung Pen is now a popular, and very accessible, diving spot, famed for its marine life. The Dominion Post – 150 Years of News is available via dompost.co.nz or 0800 50 50 90. Priced at $34.95 + $3 postage and handling or $29.95 + $3 p&h for subscribers.