A 50-year-old fisherman who suffered a cardiac event while out at sea had to be winched from a 24-metre commercial fishing trawler.

Phillips Search and Rescue Trust communications manager Vanessa Richmond says the Papamoa Beach man was fishing just north of Mayor Island when the incident occurred on Friday.

The Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter airlifted a 50-year-old fisherman from a commercial fishing trawler (pictured) after he suffered a cardiac event while at sea on Friday afternoon. Photo PSRT

'The Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter was able to locate the vessel and use the NZ Community Trust Rescue Winch to lower a rescue Paramedic onto the boat,” says Vanessa.

'The helicopter landed on Mayor Island while the man was treated on-board and prepared for transport.

Vanessa says the fisherman was then winched back on-board the helicopter and airlifted to Tauranga Hospital for further treatment.

The Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter on Mayor Island. Photo: PSRT

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