WELLINGTON, New Zealand (21 Dec 2005) -- The Wellington based Westpac Rescue Helicopter found two missing divers in Cook Strait. The helicopter crew was notified of the missing divers when a Mayday was called by their tender boat. Apparently the boat lost engine power and was drifting out to sea and they were unable to pick up the divers who went into the water south of Island Bay. Westpac Rescue Helicopter rescue crew Ruth Zeinert spotted the first diver in the water, about 200 metres south of Taputeranga Island at Island Bay. "He was quite easy to spot because he had a rescue sausage deployed" says Zeinert. "He indicated that he was OK and would swim for the Island but he did not know where the second diver was". A few minutes later the second diver was spotted climbing onto a rock just off of Taputeranga Island. By this time the Police Marine Unit was on the scene assisting the first diver so the helicopter crew attempted to rescue the second man. "When I was winched alongside of him he told me he didn't want to be rescued by helicopter, he would swim to the boat" says Westpac Rescue Helicopter crewman Dave Greenberg. "I spent a few minutes trying to convince him to come with me but he flatly refused saying he was afraid of heights. At that point I signalled the helicopter to bring me back up and we notified the Police and asked them to pick up the diver". | 
