30 Jul 2015

One drowns after capsize in Taranaki

5:22 pm on 30 July 2015

Police in Taranaki are praising the actions of a surfer who rescued one of two people involved in a fatal boating accident.

The police say two men fell into the water when their boat flipped as they tried to cross the Waitara Bar near New Plymouth this morning.

They said a local surfer who saw the pair struggling in the water managed to get to the boat and use it to get the men to shore.

However waiting paramedics were unable to revive one of the men, who was already unconscious.

Senior Sergeant Thomas McIntyre said the intervention of the surfer saved one man's life.

"There is no doubt that, but for his actions, this could have been a double tragedy."

Mr McIntyre said neither of the men were wearing lifejackets.