Mid-sea rescue ‘one chance in a million’

Press, 2 July 1983, Page 9

Mid-sea rescue ‘one chance in a million’

PA New Plymouth A one-in-a-million chance was how a New Plymouth fishing boat captain, Loui Kuthy, described the midsea rescue of his teen-age fishing companion who fell overboard in bitterly cold seas off Port Taranaki last evening. Todd Birkitt, aged 16, of New Plymouth, spent 40 chilling minutes trying to stay afloat in the rough surf while two fishing trawlers frantically searched the area where he went overboard. It was only his faint cries which eventually led to his being found. Although tired and cold, he said after his ordeal that he was always confident he would be rescued.

“I had managed to kick off my boots and leggings, and w’as kept afloat by my inflatable jacket. I could see the boats searching, although I realised they could not see me,” he said. Mr Birkitt said he was thrown overboard from the 20m fishing vessel Geneva May while it was returning to port from a fishing trip at 7.15 p.m. The Geneva May and another boat, the Norman McLeod, had been trawling about 9km off Port Taranaki. “The boat gave a sudden lurch and I was thrown from the port side into the water. Although I called out, Loui apparently didn’t hear me.” Mr Kuthy, one of Taranaki’s most experi-

enced fishermen, said it was about 10 minutes before he noticed Mr Birkitt was missing. “As soon as I realised he was overboard, I turned the boat about and alerted the Harbour Board. Both fishing boats then began the search.” They had been searching for about 15 minutes before Mr Birkitt’s cries were first heard, but flares failed to locate him. Mr Kuthy said that eventually both boats had used up all their flares when he heard another shout. Using spotlights from both boats, they finally found Mr Birkitt. As soon as he was pulled aboard, he collapsed on the deck.