24 July 08

fisherman saved by Black Cat ferry

A Korean fisherman who fell overboard this morning owes his life to the crew of a tugboat and the skipper of the Black Cat Cruises Diamond Harbour ferry.

The man was thought to have fallen off the trawler at about 6am on Thursday morning and was spotted by the crew of the Blackadder tug operating in the harbour.

The tug crew threw him a life ring but were unable to haul him aboard and enlisted the help of the Diamond Harbour Ferry and its skipper John Rocheford.

Rocheford single-handedly rescued the man in the choppy early morning seas in very dark conditions. The man was treated for hypothermia by paramedics

"We think he was in the water for 20 minutes," Black Cat Cruises managing Director Paul Bingham said.

"He didn't speak any English and our skipper showed excellent seasmanship, skills and strength to haul him on board in tough conditions."

Black Cat Cruises has been operating for 22 years and is a former winner of the Supreme tourism award and is the largest tourism operator on Banks Peninsula.

ENDS

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