Rakino Rescue

In the cold light of day, boating buddies Allen Bruford, Andrew Irving and Gordon Andrews returned to the thin sliver of jagged rock known as South Island off Rakino island jutting out of the Hauraki Gulf and wondered how they ever clung on and survived.  

On 9th April, as the tail end of a tornado wreaked havoc across East and South Auckland, the three experienced yachties found themselves in danger.

Upon seeing a wall of rocks coming directly towards them, Skipper Allen knew “Strong Persuader” had dragged free of the shelter of Rakino Island in gusts recorded at the time between 55-60 knots.

With events happening extremely fast all the trio could do was brace for impact, put on their life jackets, collect the emergency grab bagand get off the boat as safely as they could as the hull started breaking apart. As the cabin flooded with water, Allen, who had recently suffered a cardiac event, was experiencing chest pains. There was little time to act.

Activating an emergency locator beacon set off a chain of events in response to their plight. Their mayday was received by the Rescue Coordination Centre in Wellington and both Coastguard and Auckland Westpac Rescue were tasked to search for their stricken yacht.

With help on its way, Andrew, the youngest of the trio, braved the water and scrambled across the rocks with rope to create a tether line for his mates to cross Allen and Gordon were then able to join him ashore. Getting onto the island was just the warm-up however. Getting off the island? A different story. By boat was proving too dangerous.

Initially, Westpac 2 was delayed due to the conditions but, once airborne, Westpac crew were on scene in less than 10 minutes. The only way their patients would make it off the island that night would be by winch.

In 27 knot winds, with limited visual references, Pilot Simon Owen worked hard to get all three men on the island in the best position possible to be airlifted aboard. The job of physically retrieving them would be that of Critical Care Paramedic Alice Tolich on one end of the winch-line and Air Crew Officer Graham “Jonesy” Jones guiding her from the chopper above. In the rear cabin, Pre-Hospital and Retrieval Medicine Doctor Louise Park prepared the aircraft, often described as a flying emergency room, to receive the men.

Andrew was winched up first in a crutch strap followed by Allen and Gordon in an ARV (Air Rescue Vest) also referred to as a “Super-Nappy”. For Alice, this would be her first winch at night and the first involving three patients.

Once all three patients were safely inside, they reached Auckland City Hospital in seven minutes. Once there, Allen, who understandably suffered a great deal of anxiety that night, was given a thorough check up and the all-clear.

All three men are certain that, had the Auckland Westpac Rescue Helicopter not come to their aid , their story may have had a very different ending.

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