3 Jun 2013

Abandoned launch lucky

10:12 am on 3 June 2013

The Southland Harbour Master says the abandoned launch Matakana, which ran on to rocks in Fiordland on Saturday night, appears to have got away with 'gravel rash'.

A boy , his father and grandfather were rescued from the launch after the vessel got into difficulty in atrocious weather.

Because of the conditions a helicopter mission to rescue the family was dismissed but a nearby charter launch, Pembroke, sent an inflatable to evacuate them from the stricken vessel.

Matakana was found aground on a beach in Breaksea Sound on Sunday and a fisherman towed it from there to a northern beach where it is now at anchor beside the Pembroke.