Paddleboarders – 09/08/2016 – 10:35 to 11:43

At 1035hr a member of the public rang Whakatane Coastguard to report that two stand-up paddleboarders appeared to be in difficulties off Coastlands.  The Police were notified and at 1040hr Whakatane Rescue was tasked to check the paddleboarders. Whakatane Rescue crossed the bar at 1052hr and found the boarders 1km off Captains Cove. Sea conditions were good but there was a cold 11-18kn wind from the south. One boarder had lost her paddle and both were being blown offshore. They were taken onboard with one suffering badly from hypothermia. Whakatane Rescue returned to port at 1109hr to meet an Ambulance who took them both to hospital. Many thanks to the public who alerted rescue services of the emergency.