The Palmerston North Rescue Helicopter was dispatched at 4 pm on Thursday 30 November to Rangitikei River, where a man was seen in trouble while swimming near the river mouth. The man had been swimming with two others when they began struggling.The man became separated from the group, who had swum to shore to call for help.
The rescue helicopter responded with a Rescue Swimmer on board and started a search in the vicinity of the last sighting. The Palmerston North Rescue Helicopter was assisted by the NZ Airforce who had an A109 helicopter near the search location on a training exercise. When they became aware of the situation they offered their support and were tasked by the rescue helicopter to assist in the search.
Shortly after establishing the search the missing man was located by the rescue helicopter crew with a member of the public on the beach approximately one mile north of where he was last sighted. Fortunately, the man was not injured.
