The Wellington-based Westpac Rescue Helicopter rescued a jet skier who got separated from his ski and was being dragged out to sea earlier this afternoon.

Police contacted the rescue crew just before 1:00 pm and reported that a jet skier was seen from the shore near Lake Ferry to lose his jet ski and was being swept out to sea.

The helicopter was airborne four minutes later and arrived overhead at 1:15pm. A person on shore who was watching the man through binoculars was able to talk the crew directly to the man.

The 25 year old Auckland man was winched out of Palliser Bay and flown back to shore. He said that he had hit something in the water and fell from his jet ski. Once on shore the Wellington Free Ambulance Helicopter paramedic onboard the helicopter checked the man and he was shaken up and a bit cold but otherwise OK.

"It was certainly helpful having someone on shore keeping track of the man" says Dave Greenberg, Westpac Rescue Helicopter crewman. "We were able to fly pretty much directly to him and had him on shore within 20 minutes of leaving Wellington".

The man was not transported to hospital. At 1:30 police tasked the helicopter to fly to Titahi Bay where there were reports of an empty kayak being swept out to sea. The helicopter was stood down when it was confirmed that what was thought to be a kayak was actually a big log floating in the water.

ENDS

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