Two men rescued after boat capsizes at Blackhead Beach
Police have commended the efforts of rescuers after a small boat, with two men on it, capsized 300m offshore at Central Hawke's Bay's Blackhead Beach.
Emergency services were called to the incident just after 8.40am this morning.
A police spokesperson said both men were wearing lifejackets, but from reports, were unable to swim past the breakers and reach the shore on their own.
"About 15 minutes after the first call to emergency services, a male member of the public equipped with a floatation device and a rope attached to another person onshore swum out to the men."
One of the men was located by the swimmer and he and the swimmer were pulled back to shore by a group on the beach.
"A privately owned inflatable boat was launched from the beach at about 9.10am to reach the other male still in the water. The boat successfully located him and brought him safely back to shore a few minutes later."
Both men were "safe and well" and did not require treatment.
"Police commend the efforts of all involved in safely rescuing the two men," the spokesperson said.
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