First Search for Coastguard Lake Brunner’s new rescue vessel

Volunteers from Coastguard Lake Brunner and Coastguard West Coast were called out on Sunday 13th June at 3.30pm to search for a missing woman who’s car had been found in the car park of Lake Mahinapua, south of Hokitika.  Police who held concerns for her safety, called out the two Coastguard  units to search the Lake.  Three Coastguard vessels were used in the search including MoA Rescue, which was provided by Coastguard for the local Coastguard Lake Brunner unit on 1st May.  This is the first time the vessel has been used in a local search and rescue operation.  Coastguard West Coast used their IRB vessels.

The search was called off on Sunday night due to poor visibility at 6pm and resumed at 9.30am Monday morning when the Police Dive Squad were assisted by Coastguard Lake Brunner volunteers in the search for and recovery of the woman’s body.