Stuff.co New Zealand report
Stranded diver says no to aerial rescue
Wellington rescue personnel were left bemused after a diver, stranded on a rock in Cook Strait, refused to be winched to safety on to a helicopter, saying he was scared of heights.
Two divers who had entered the water south of Island Bay yesterday, had been reported missing and were found by the Wellington-based Westpac Rescue Helicopter late yesterday afternoon.
A mayday was called by their tender boat after it lost engine power and began drifting out to sea, unable to pick up the divers.
Rescue crew, Ruth Zeinert, spotted the first diver in the water, about 200 metres south of Taputeranga Island at Island Bay.
"He indicated that he was okay and would swim for the island but he did not know where the second diver was," she said.
The second diver was spotted a few minutes later climbing on to a rock just off the island.
The police launch had arrived and was helping the first diver so the helicopter crew tried to rescue the second man, but to no avail.
"I was quite amazed that he refused to be rescued," Westpac Rescue Helicopter crewman Dave Greenberg said.
"I have been working on the helicopter for nearly 15 years and although I have seen people reluctant to be rescued, I have never met anyone who flatly refused.
" When I was winched alongside he told me he didn't want to be rescued by helicopter, he would swim to the boat.
"I spent a few minutes trying to convince him to come with me but he flatly refused saying he was afraid of heights."
Mr Greenberg returned to the helicopter and the police boat was called to pick up the diver, who swam out to the boat.