Survivor’s treacherous swim to shore after boat capsizes

A boat capsized after it “encountered difficulties” with one of the two people navigating challenging swells to swim to shore and raise the alarm.

Two people were on a boat in Auckland’s Manaukau Harbour when it capsized after it “encountered difficulties” on Tuesday.

One person embarked on a treacherous swim to shore to raise the alarm that a person was missing after the pair ran into trouble.

The search for a missing person on a boat that capsized in Auckland’s Manaukau Harbour has resumed today. Picture: Nz Herald

A police spokesperson said officers were first notified of the incident shortly before 6pm after one of the two people swam to shore.

The small vessel sank near Puketutu island — also known as Te Motu a Hiaroa. It is a volcanic island in the Manukau Harbour.

The Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter circled Manukau Harbour in search of the missing boatie after another person on board managed to swim to shore to raise the alarm of the incident. Picture: Flightradar24

Police said it was reported one person was unaccounted for and was last seen at around 4.50pm on Tuesday as the search for the boatie continues.

“The search will resume today on air, sea, and land, with police Search and Rescue staff conducting land-based searches on Puketutu Island,” a police spokesperson told the NZ Herald.

It is understood the Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter was deployed along with the Eagle helicopter to assist with aerial searches with a focus on Puketutu island.

A Coastguard spokeswoman told NZ Herald water conditions were “challenging due to swell and darkness” on Tuesday evening.

Search and rescue teams have also been searching near Auckland Airport, as far as the Manukau Heads and the eastern bays such as Laingholm.

The survivor who made it to shore did not need any medication attention.