Police helicopter Eagle has, once again, proved its worth this morning by locating a missing 23 year-old woman who'd been in Waitemata Harbour for at least nine hours overnight with no floatation devices to assist her.
The Birkdale woman was reported missing last evening but overnight searches by the Air Support Unit could not find her. The search resumed this morning at 7.45 and, on their second overhead sweep, she was spotted in the water by crew about 1km from Takapuna Beach, barely keeping her head above water.
The Police launch Deodar was directed to her and she was then returned to the Marine Rescue Centre from where she was taken to Auckland Hospital.
One of the Eagle crew members said there were no buoys or marker-posts within the immediate area that the young woman could have held on to.
"She was just in the middle of nothingness."
ENDS
Issued by Noreen Hegarty
Auckland City Police Communications Manager
Ph 09 302 6947 or 0274-951-589
Website: www.police.govt.nz
