Key Takeaways
- A person remains missing after a jet ski incident near Port Waikato on Christmas Day
- A five-year-old child and a male were left in distress in the water, with the child being rescued by surf lifeguards
- Emergency responders, including police and surf life savers, were called to the scene, with an extensive search effort underway to locate the missing person
- The search for the missing person finished at 8pm on Christmas Day, with Auckland Coastguard Air Patrol volunteers continuing to search for the missing person
Introduction to the Incident
A tragic incident occurred on Christmas Day near Port Waikato, leaving a person missing after a jet ski accident. The incident happened around 6.25pm, with emergency responders being called to the Waikato River Mouth to assist three people in difficulty. The situation was dire, with a five-year-old child and a male in distress in the water. Fortunately, surf lifeguards from Sunset Beach Lifeguard Service and Surf Lifesaving Kariaotahi were quickly on the scene, retrieving the child from the water.
Response Efforts
The response to the incident was swift and involved multiple agencies. Police units, including an Eagle helicopter, assisted Surf Life Saving New Zealand in rescuing the two people in distress. The Auckland Westpac Rescue Helicopters were also dispatched to the scene, with crews conducting an extensive grid search to locate the missing person. Unfortunately, despite the best efforts of the responders, one person remains missing. A spokesperson for Northern Rescue, the operator of the Auckland Westpac Rescue Helicopters, confirmed that crews were called to the scene around 6.31pm and conducted a thorough search, but were unable to locate the missing person.
Search and Rescue Operations
The search for the missing person was a coordinated effort, with multiple agencies involved. Surf lifeguards from Sunset Beach Lifeguard Service and Surf Lifesaving Kariaotahi were the first to respond, retrieving the five-year-old child from the water. The police and Auckland Coastguard Air Patrol volunteers also played a crucial role in the search efforts, with the Eagle helicopter and Auckland Westpac Rescue Helicopters providing aerial support. The search for the missing person finished at 8pm on Christmas Day, but Auckland Coastguard Air Patrol volunteers are continuing to search for the missing person.
Medical Response
The medical response to the incident was also swift, with St John dispatching a rapid response unit, two ambulances, and a helicopter to the scene. However, upon arrival, it was determined that the ambulances were not needed for transportation, and the crews were stood down. The police took over as the lead agency, with the search and rescue efforts being the primary focus. A spokesperson for St John confirmed that the ambulance service was notified of two people in the water, but fortunately, the medical response was not required.
Ongoing Search Efforts
The search for the missing person is ongoing, with Auckland Coastguard Air Patrol volunteers continuing to search for the missing person. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of water safety and the need for vigilance when engaging in water activities. The investigation into the incident is likely to be ongoing, with the police and other agencies working to determine the circumstances surrounding the jet ski accident. The thoughts of the community are with the family and friends of the missing person, and everyone involved in the search and rescue efforts is hoping for a positive outcome.