01 January 2010
The name of a man who died after a boat sunk off the northern Coromandel coast overnight has been released.
He was 68-year-old Raymond SAUNDERS of Kihikihi.
Mr SAUNDERS was on the 18-ft boat with another man in Otautu Bay when it encountered heavy seas and was swamped.
The other occupant of the boat managed to make it to rocks on the coast and was rescued by a passing woman, neither of the men were wearing life jackets.
The surviving man was taken to Thames Hospital for treatment.
Several vessels put to sea following news of the boat's sinking about 7.20pm and Mr SAUNDERS was found in the water unconscious.
Attempts to revive him were unsuccessful.
Media reports that the sinking of the boat resulted from a collision between two vessels and four people ended up in the water were incorrect.
End