By Amanda Gillies
It's thought a rogue four-metre wave was responsible for sinking a cray fishing boat in Fiordland last night, leaving two men needing to be rescued from the sea.
The boat's skipper and another crewman were picked up by helicopter off the Fiordland coast after their boat overturned.
Wrapped in blankets and huddled over to keep out the cold, skipper Troy Johnson and his crew member Dan Young were wheeled into Southland Hospital for treatment.
Police say the men were lucky to survive the conditions.
One of the men had been knocked off their boat, Sharcaree, after it was capsized by a rogue wave. His mate was able to swim out from under it.
They were in the freezing waters for about 30 minutes, clinging to anything they could find - including a buoy.
Then just as darkness fell, the fishing vessel Kirilee found their upturned boat near Chalky Island.
Senior Sergeant Dave Raynes says the crew of the Kirilee picked the men out of the water.
“They did a bit of a search and found two men in the water. They uplifted them and transferred them to a rendezvous point in Chalky. Police then arranged for a helicopter with paramedic and doctor on board.”
Both men were cold but fine, and an investigation is underway.
Police have notified Environment Southland of the possibility of oil spills from the boat, owned by a Bluff cray fisherman.
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