NZDF helps search for man who fell from yacht on East Coast

The New Zealand Defence Force has deployed a Royal New Zealand Air Force P-3K2 Orion surveillance aircraft to help search for a man who fell from a yacht while sailing on the East Coast this afternoon.

The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) is helping search for a man who fell from a yacht while sailing on the East Coast this afternoon.

Air Commodore Tim Walshe, the Air Component Commander, said a Royal New Zealand Air Force P-3K2 Orion surveillance aircraft had been deployed from Auckland to join the search following a request from the Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand (RCCNZ).

The Orion will search until last light, Air Commodore Walshe said.

RCCNZ said the missing man fell overboard from a 10-metre yacht about 28 kilometres east of Tolaga Bay. One person remains on board and had contacted Maritime New Zealand to request for help.

A Coast Guard vessel and two civilian aircraft are also involved in the search.