Dramatic Anzac Day Rescue Saves Kayaker After Hours in Frigid Waitematā Harbour

Police Eagle helicopter and Maritime Unit rescue a hypothermic kayaker clinging to his craft in Waitematā Harbour during the early hours of Anzac Day 2026.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 27, 2026, 3:52 AM EDT

Source: RNZ Pacific

Overnight Capsize and the Outgoing Tide

The emergency began in the early hours of Saturday, April 25, when two men in kayaks attempted to reach a moored vessel. During the transit, both kayaks overturned. While one man managed to battle the elements and board the moored boat to raise the alarm at approximately 3:40 AM, the other was caught by a powerful outgoing tide and swept into the dark channel. The survivor on the boat provided the initial coordinates, sparking an immediate multi-agency search through the boat club and surrounding moorings.

Aerial Detection and the "Sign of Life"

The Police Eagle helicopter arrived on the scene shortly after the distress call, expanding the search radius as the tide continued to pull the missing kayaker away from the shore. The crew eventually spotted the overturned kayaks and the victim approximately one kilometer from the coast. Senior Sergeant Garry Larsen of the Marine Rescue Centre noted that the man was initially unresponsive, showing minimal body heat. It was only when the helicopter’s spotlight was fixed on him and the crew utilized the public address (PA) system that the man showed "small signs of life," allowing the crew to guide surface vessels to his exact location.

Critical Medical Intervention and Recovery

By 4:40 AM, the police Maritime Unit reached the man, who was found in roughly 6-degree Celsius water. Sergeant Craig Kennedy reported that the victim was "seriously hypothermic" and had lost the ability to speak or move effectively. The man was rushed to the Te Atatu Boat Club to meet awaiting paramedics before being transported to the hospital in serious condition. His companion, who had remained on the moored boat, was also recovered and treated for moderate injuries. Medical staff highlighted that without the buoyancy of his life jacket, the victim would have likely succumbed to physical exhaustion long before being spotted.