The surviving trio of the stricken yacht Platino are safely back in New Zealand and heaping praise on their rescuers.
One of the surviver is helped onto the Southern Lilly. Photo: SUPPLIED / Southern Lily
Ross McKee and Harry and Tory McKeogh were picked up by the container ship Southern Lily on Tuesday after high winds and rough seas swamped their yacht halfway between New Zealand and Fiji.
Auckland boat-builder Nick Saull was hit by the rigging and killed, and another man is lost at sea.
The trio arrived in Auckland in the early hours of this morning, and Mrs McKeogh has issued a statement thanking the rescuers and crew members of the Southern Lily.
The survivors with Southern Lily crew members. Photo: SUPPLIED / Southern Lily
Inspector Vaughan Graham said the tugboat Sea Pelican is on its way to the Platino, about 255km north of New Zealand, to recover Mr Saull's body.
A maritime police officer, is onboard the tugboat on behalf of the coroner, and it is expected to reach the yacht by the end of the week.
Photo: SUPPLIED / Southern Lily
Photo: SUPPLIED / Southern Lily