The bodies of three men found on the shore at Māhia are believed to be the Gisborne fishermen who went missing earlier this week.
Authorities launched a search on Monday after the fishermen’s last communication at 10am off the coast of Gisborne. Despite an extensive search involving the African Tiger container vessel and other maritime resources, severe weather conditions hampered rescue efforts.
The devastating discovery was made this morning, leaving the families and community in mourning as they await formal identification of the bodies.
Roger Faber, president of the Gisborne Tatapouri Sports Fishing Club, expressed deep sorrow over the loss, highlighting the close-knit nature of the community. The missing fishermen were well-known locals, with strong ties to the sporting community.
The rescue operation faced severe challenges, including six-metre swells and 50-knot winds, which ultimately thwarted the efforts of rescuers.
Image credit: Andrzej Kryszpiniuk
Just awful. So unnecessary. Why did they go out with such severe weather forecast? 😞