The marine search and rescue exercise near Motiti Island today has been labelled a success.
The exercise involved over 50 personal from three different agencies, Surf Life Saving, Coastguard and Police. Sergeant Craig Madden of the Tauranga Search and Rescue team says the exercise focused on inter-agency co-ordination and testing communications between the groups.
The exercise scenario was based on three divers becoming separated from their vessel after the boatman had a medical event and the boat drifted several nautical miles before the alarm was raised.
The search teams located all three divers by 2pm this afternoon.
"We got some learnings out of today but that is what an exercise like this is all about, identifying areas of improvement and learning from them. I would like to thank all the volunteers who gave uo their time today for the good of our marine search response," said Sergeant Madden.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre
