by ardypilot » Wed Jun 05, 2013 11:16 am
There was a similar set of events a few weeks back in New Plymouth, when a kite surfer was reportedly swept out to sea.
The local rescue chopper was sent up to look for him, although got called away to a more urgent situation further down the coast where a to a fisherman that had fallen off a cliff.
The tower asked me to go search in the 182 jumpship, which we did for a good 20 or so minutes from the reported position, however it later turned out to be a false alarm thankfully! Someone thought they saw a green canopy being dragged out past the breakers, but there was no missing person report the following day, nor empty car left at the beach.