Albeit on the other side of the ditch with a more positive outcome...
Surf club members rescued the pilot of a light aircraft after he was forced to ditch in the sea south of Whangarei today.
The Cessna plunged into the sea near Ruakaka Surf Club and the pilot managed to get out of the cockpit before the aircraft quickly sank.
Pilot rescued by surf club members - New Zealand news on Stuff.co.nz
Let's hope that's the last we hear of this kind of news for while....
LP