Three fishermen have survived their boat capsizing near the Firth of Thames by clinging to its upturned hull for eight hours.
A supplied picture of the capsized boat in the Firth of Thames. Photo: Supplied / Coastguard
The coastguard said the alarm was raised last night when one of the men's wives became worried that he had not returned home from a launch at the Kaiaua Camping Ground.
The three men, two of whom were wearing lifejackets, were spotted by a rescue helicopter at 1.15am and picked up at about 2am.
As they were starting to feel the onset of hypothermia, the men were taken to hospital but discharged later this morning.
Coastguard spokesperson Georgie Smith said the men were credited for sticking together.
"Two of the men had lifejackets on and the third didn't. When they arrived on the scene, two were on the hull and one was in the water. He'd made that decision because he felt warmer in there but it's an incredibly long time to be in the water."
Ms Smith said the 15 metre boat capsized while the men were trying to free a rope caught on the propeller, when the boat turned side on to the waves and was tipped over.