RNZAF Poseidon spots fisherman missing for a week

A Royal New Zealand Air Force P-8A Poseidon crew found a solo fisherman missing for a week in the northern Cook Islands.

CAPTION: A missing Cook Islands fisherman waves to the crew of the RNZAF P-8A after they found him west of Pukapuka Island. RNZDF photo supplied.

The man, in his four-metre aluminium skiff, was spotted by the crew on 19 June, and he was able to wave to them.

Nearby fishing vessels indicated they were able to pick the man up.

The fisherman had set off from Pukapuka Island, about 1140km northwest of Rarotonga, for a day’s fishing on Thursday last week (local time) but failed to return.

He was reported overdue to local police the following day and New Zealand’s Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre requested RNZAF help in the search earlier this week.

It is believed the man had minimal safety or survival equipment.

The P-8A and crew started the search on Thursday and found the man early on Friday.

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