Two people were rescued early this morning after their boat struck rocks near Leigh, north of Auckland, during severe weather conditions.
Boat Rescue Near Auckland
Police were alerted around 2:40 a.m. after a 16-meter launch hit rocks, leaving the two individuals struggling to reach the shore.
Fire and Emergency services responded to the scene around 3 a.m., finding the pair trapped on the “floundering” vessel at Leigh Harbour. Local volunteer firefighters requested assistance from Auckland City’s high-angle triangle rescue team.
The specialist team, working alongside police and ambulance crews, navigated a challenging cliff face using rescue lines in complete darkness to reach those stranded. Senior station manager Michael Manning described the rescue as outstanding and dangerous.
“They had to navigate a difficult cliff face using rescue lines in complete darkness and during a weather bomb to pull off an outstanding rescue,” Manning said. “I am very proud of those involved as they pulled off a complex rescue amidst a lot of danger.”
Both individuals were safely extracted just before 6 a.m., and police were then stood down. Hato Hone St John dispatched two ambulances and an operations manager, treating both patients for minor injuries before transporting them to a hospital.
The boat remains on the rocks as the sea continues to surge. Police and the harbor master will assess the vessel to determine next steps.
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