New kind of shark nicks special boat
Vaughan Hill is a survivor but the theft of his modified boat while he was in hospital last week is a ‘‘real kick in the guts’’.
The theft made a tough week even tougher for the 46-year-old who lost his right arm in a shark attack while harvesting pa¯ ua off Pitt Island in 1996.
Hill was in Dunedin Hospital last week after ‘‘smashing’’ his left shoulder during a hunting trip on April 4.
The day after having surgery, a friend called him with the news that the boat he has restored and modified over 10 years to suit his condition, had been stolen from his home in Timaru.
The Quill, Hill said, was a very distinctive left-hand steer alloy pontoon boat that had been modified so he could continue his love of boating and share that love with daughter Isobel, 13.
Hill said Isobel was very upset about the theft and his distraught daughter told Stuff that ‘‘the boat was everything to us’’.
Her advice to the thief was: ‘‘Drop it off and run real fast’’.
Hill said the boat was reported stolen on April 6.
‘‘This boat meant a hell of a lot to us as it’s been modified to be userfriendly for me,’’ he said.
‘‘Isobel has grown up on this boat and we used it to get out and do what we love to do.
‘‘Being in hospital and finding out this boat has been stolen is a real kick in the guts.
‘‘The whole thing is not good timing . . . hopefully they will realise it’s a f... up and do the right thing,’’ Hill said.
The boat, valued at about $30,000, was insured, he said.
A police spokeswoman said inquiries were ongoing.