The Rescue Coordination Centre received an alert six minutes after it was sent from a 406 distress beacon at 11am from a boat located 12 miles west of Cape Foulwind.
A search and rescue helicopter was sent out and found the man in a life raft. They airlifted him to hospital for a medical check.
“We don’t know what communications he had on the fishing vessel, or if he had time to use the radio to make a distress call.
“The beacon allowed for a swift response and a successful rescue.”
The man had distress beacons on the boat and the life-raft, but the one on the life raft was not registered.
“If a beacon is registered we can contact family members and find out more about the situation that might help the rescue.”
The harbourmaster said he did not know how the fire started.
Read more here:
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12204302
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/110632627/man-saved-from-burning-fishing-vessel-off-westport