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UK man awaits Pacific yacht rescue | UK man awaits Pacific yacht rescue |
(35 minutes later) | |
A British man and a woman from New Zealand are waiting to be rescued after their yacht rolled in the Pacific Ocean, authorities say. | |
It is about 700km (434 miles) south-west of Tonga and 1,260km north-east of New Zealand, rescue co-ordinators said. | |
The yacht, called Windigo, righted itself after being damaged on Wednesday but is taking on water and could sink. | The yacht, called Windigo, righted itself after being damaged on Wednesday but is taking on water and could sink. |
The 52-old-man and 43-year-old woman are understood to have mild to moderate head injuries. | The 52-old-man and 43-year-old woman are understood to have mild to moderate head injuries. |
The man also hurt his back when the 11.6m (38ft) vessel rolled after leaving Tonga two days ago. | |
There are few vessels in the area, which has been affected by 75km/h winds. | |
A message from an emergency beacon on the yacht was received on Wednesday at 18:30 New Zealand time (05:00 GMT). | |
A freighter and a yacht are expected to reach the Windigo at 0100 on Friday, but no rescue would be attempted until daybreak, the Rescue Co-ordination Centre said. | |
A flight overhead by a French navy aircraft Noumea has confirmed the yacht is still floating and has established radio contact with the crew. | |
A New Zealand Air Force P3-Orion later took a position above the yacht where it remained for three hours and dropped a life raft. | A New Zealand Air Force P3-Orion later took a position above the yacht where it remained for three hours and dropped a life raft. |
A New Zealand Navy patrol boat has also been sent to assist. | |
Search and rescue mission co-ordinator Keith Allen said sea conditions were becoming less severe but remained rough. | |
"It will be extremely uncomfortable and the people aboard are tired, but the yacht is still afloat so the correct approach is to remain onboard." | "It will be extremely uncomfortable and the people aboard are tired, but the yacht is still afloat so the correct approach is to remain onboard." |