A solo fisherman missing for a week in the northern Cook Islands has been rescued.
The man, in his four-metre aluminium skiff, was spotted by a crew onboard Royal New Zealand Air Force plane Poseidon on Friday morning, waving at them.
The New Zealand Defence Force said nearby fishing vessels indicated they were able to him up.
The fisherman had set off from Pukapuka Island, more than 1000 kilometres northwest of Rarotonga, for a day’s fishing on Thursday last week but failed to return.
It’s understood that he had minimal safety or survival equipment.
“He was reported overdue to local police the following day and New Zealand’s Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre requested RNZAF help in the search earlier this week,” the NZDF said.
The crew started their search on Thursday.
