24th October 2010 Coastguard Kaikoura Air Patrol were requested by Police to conduct an air search for a Whitebaiter who went missing after attempting to assist two others who were washed offshore but recovered by boat.  Departing Kaikoura at 12.49 pm they arrived off the Okarito Lagoon south of Hokitika and commenced a search of the Tasman Sea along the coast at 2.15pm  completing a comprehensive search along the coast and out to sea at 4pm.  Aboard were two pilots and 4 observers trained in search techniques.  Unfortunately no sign of the missing man was found and the Police stood the aircraft search down, and they returned to Kaikoura after refueling.  The crew are saddened that they were unable to locate this person and express their sympathy to the family.

1645hrs 14 October the fishing vessel Marconi made a May Day call reporting that their vessel was on fire and they were abandoning ship.  The Maritime NZ Rescue Coordination Centre called for assistance and 3 fishing vessels headed to the scene with an estimated arrival time of 60 minutes.  Coastguard West Coast also heard the call and rang RCC  at 1715 estimating their arrival time to be around 1800.

Doug Giffin the Skipper of Ivan Talley Rescue says “we had a head on scea with a 1 to 2 metre swell, but quickly settled down to around 29 knots”.  After leaving they spotted the local rescue helicopter passed them heading out.  The helicopter spotted the crew in a life-raft and plactic fish crate and the fishing vessel Ocean Odssesy arrived soon after picking up the crew.  “Ocean Odssesy asked us to take the rescued crew onboard and and return them to Greymouth” says Doug, “The Marconi crew wanted to wait and see if the Marconi would sink so we stood by for 2 hours.   By the time we left the area the Marconi was still afloat by 3/4 was on fire and parts were burnt down to the water line.  I would be surprised if she stayed afloat.”  The crew were uninjured and returned safely to Greymouth by Coastguard.

For the members of Coastguard Bluff the search for a missing Robinson R22 helicopter had become personal. They were searching for one of their own.

With gritted determination the crew on board NZAS Rescue and another Coastguard crew onboard an RIB (ridged inflatable boat) borrowed from the Bluff Yacht Club, left the wharf in the early morning light on 15^th October, to resume the search for the helicopter that had been missing since around 1.45pm the previous day, with a fellow Coastguard member on board – one of the two missing men.  Other Coastguard units involved were Riverton with Russell John Chisholm Rescue and the Southland Air Patrol, they, along with a number of other helicopters and private boats, all had one common goal – to locate the missing helicopter and two men.

The RIB searched the shallow water of Awarua Bay and NZAS Rescue the deeper waters of the upper harbour for 4 hours with nothing found. The crew on board the RIB returned down the harbour searching the minor shallow channels and out into a bay at the top of the harbour. After meeting up with the crew on a private dinghy and discussing the situation, it was decided they would search the bays shore line, while the RIB started a search of the bay. The RIB crew spotted what looked like post sticking out of the water just before midday. On investigation it turned out to be part of a rotor blade. The RIB was anchored and a call made to search headquarters and they sent a helicopter the area. The downed R22 was located 80 meters to the west of that position with one victim still inside. The wreckage was in 1500mm of water with the tide still on the ebb. Two private dinghies had located a body on the shore to the north of the down R22 shortly after the main crash site had been located.

For the Coastguard Bluff crew members on board both boats there was a mixture of satisfaction in locating the R22 and deep disappointment and sadness in knowing that they had lost one of their own.

The owner and pilot of the Robinson R22 was Allan Munro a husband, father, farmer and a good bugger. Jason Wright was the passenger and flight instructor and a man born to fly.

Jason Wright joined Coastguard Bluff in 1998 and became the unit Secretary in 2002 for several years. He was an active crew member and crewed on a number of SAR operations. Jason also carried out Helicopter training with the Unit in his machine.  As Secretary, Jason was heavily involved in setting up the control room / office in the Awarua Rowing Club almost single handed. His knowledge of communication was put to good use in setting up the VHF Radios and SSB, all with back up batteries. He also set up the office  with manuals and systems that we still in use today.

Jason’s work took him overseas for a few years but he returned to Bluff to set up his own helicopter charter business and had continued his association with the unit as his time permitted.

Jason was reliable and thorough in everything he did with nothing left to chance. A likeable young man with a life to live and a drive to match it.

We at Coastguard Bluff mourn his passing in these tragic circumstances. We extend our deepest sympathies to his family and friends, and also to that of Allan Munro’s family as well.

Rest in peace Jason – you have etched your name well into the history of Coastguard Bluff.

Reg Smith, Allan & Karen Skerrett on behalf of Coastguard Bluff volunteers