Men missing more than 24 hours off Norfolk Island

Source: NZPA

A search for two men in an ill-equipped runabout off the coast of Norfolk Island has been called off for the day.

A New Zealand air force Orion yesterday helped search for the boat, which left Norfolk Island, 1600km northeast of Sydney, on Monday afternoon.

Norfolk Island police contacted the National Search and Rescue Co-ordination Centre (NRCC) in Wellington at 1.30am yesterday after initial searches using a light aircraft failed to find the boat.

NRCC spokesman Jim McLean said ground parties and local boats had failed to find any sign of the missing boat.

The Orion left Whenuapai near Auckland at midday to search a 1000sq km area northwest of Norfolk Island, reaching the search area by 2.30pm.

Meanwhile, a local light aircraft searched a triangle from Norfolk Island to the eastern edge of the Orion's search area.

Nothing had been found to indicate what might have happened to the runabout and its crew, Mr McLean said.

The Orion was to return to Whenuapai last night, where the crew would stay before resuming the search today.

The missing boat was on a test run after being on land for four years.

It reportedly had no radio, safety equipment, or auxiliary motor.

Best they go out buy Lottery tickets this weekend... so they can pay back SAR!

UPDATE

Men missing off Norfolk Island found

Source: www.stuff.co.nz

Two men missing off the coast of Norfolk Island since Monday have made their own way ashore.

National Search and Rescue Co-ordination Centre spokesman Jim McLean said the pair came ashore at 11.40am.

It was not yet known if the men had spent time in the water or if they made it back in their boat to Anson Bay on the island's north coast.

Their condition was also unknown but Mr McLean said the pair were being checked at Norfolk Hospital on the island 1600km northeast of Sydney.

A New Zealand air force Orion had searched for the pair yesterday after Norfolk Island police asked for help searching for the pair who had set out in a ill-equipped runabout.

The Orion had been ready to resume the search this afternoon.

The boat had been on a test run after being on land for four years. It reportedly had no radio, safety equipment, or auxiliary motor.