Fisherman survives hours in water

A Katikati farmer got a shock this morning when he looked up from his coffee about 7.30am to see a sodden and bedraggled fisherman knocking at his door.

The farmer, who didn't want to be named, told SunLive this morning the man was 'bloody cold”.


The boat being pulled ashore on Beach Road.

The man knocking on his door was the 60-year-old Katikati fisherman who had been reported missing by his family at midnight after he failed to return from a fishing trip in the Tauranga Harbour.

His boat capsized at about 3am and he spent a considerable amount of time in the water, the farmer told SunLive.

'He didn't say much,” says the farmer. 'But he was extremely tired, wobbling and about to keel over.

'We gave him some coffee and some weetbix and rang 111, the emergency services were here smartly.”

The farmer says the fisherman was well equipped, but 'was tired and done in”.

'He shook my hand before he left and I was just delighted that I could help someone so early in the day.”

The fisherman came ashore at Aongatete just south of Katikati and it's believed he made his way across marshlands to the farm house after coming ashore.

Tauranga Police say the man has been taken to Tauranga Hospital in serious condition and the boat has been recovered.

'It appears that the man was wearing a lifejacket and this is a particularly pleasing aspect of this incident and is hopefully a signal that the message may be getting through,” says acting Senior Sergeant Tristan Murray.

'Wearing a life jacket increases your survival time in the water. This is a timely reminder as we head into the warmer summer months with more people heading out onto the water.”

Tristan says Tauranga Police would like to thank the external partners involved in the search which included the Waihi and Tauranga Coastguard, Tauranga LandSAR, Waihi Surf Club, TECT Rescue Helicopter and the Tauranga Radio Operators.

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