The wearing of life jackets and the prompt response by local boaties and two commercial vessels is being credited by Waikato Police as playing major parts in the successful rescue of four people from the ocean of Kawhia this morning.
Sergeant Phil Bell of the Waikato Search and Rescue Squad said Police were made aware of two boats overturning while trying to navigate the Kawhia Bar about 10.21am.
"Several local boaties and commercial vessels from Raglan and the iron sands mine at Taharoa converged on the scene and initially there were concerns one of the four people flung from the two overturned boats was unaccounted for.
"The Auckland based Westpac Rescue Helicopter and a Coastguard launch from Raglan were inbound when it was established everyone was accounted for, three people had been picked up by one vessel and the fourth by another."
Mr Bell said while everyone was accounted for two of the four had suffered injuries ranging from concussion to lacerations.
"The people were taken to the Kawhia Wharf where an ambulance was waiting and the injured parties taken to Waikato Hospital for treatment.
"We were very lucky that a combination of factors fell into place that meant a potential tragedy was avoided. First off all those onboard the stricken craft were all wearing lifejackets and secondly because of the fantastic response from the local boaties and the operators of the two commercial vessels."
Police urged people to take advantage of the Kawhia Bar awareness days run by the Coastguard and to adhere to the Boating Safety Code.
That code recommends the taking and wearing of life jackets; that skippers know their limits and are responsible for everyone on board their boat's safety; that boaties avoid alcohol and take two separate waterproof ways of communication.
"The other one is to check the local marine forecast before you go out and to expect change," said Mr Bell.
"It's a bit like driving to the conditions on the road, you need to know the sea state before you head out and what its likely to do."
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