Retrieving a beacon washed ashore after a yacht fatality off Tauranga almost cost a Waihi Coastguard member his life today.
The beacon was from the yacht Time to Burn which capsized about 20km off Mount Maunganui on Sunday, resulting in the death of Napier yachtsman Michael Claudatos.
The Coastguard member went to Matakana Island, near Tauranga, this morning to retrieve the beacon which had been washed ashore, when his own boat overturned in the surf.
Fortunately his beacon was activated and the signal picked up by the Rescue Co-ordination Centre.
The TrustPower TECT rescue helicopter was alerted and began a search off the Matakana Island shoreline.
Helicopter spokesman Andrew Harrison said the boat was found overturned on the shore.
"After few of minutes of searching the sole crewman was found 1km north of the boat," Mr Harrison said.
Mr Harrison said the crewman was transported back to Tauranga Hospital for assessment and the helicopter returned to the island to retrieve both beacons.
