Authorities lost track of the launch, called
Kahu, until it was struck by a commercial fishing boat about 16 kilometres away, near Cape Jackson, at 10pm. It then drifted towards Transpower’s underwater electricity and telecommunications cables in Cook Strait, before it was spotted by seamen and towed to Wellington.
Ross Giblin/Stuff
On Saturday, emergency services were called to the 11.8-metre launch boat as it began to sink near near Ngāwhatu Kai-ponu/The Brothers Islands around noon. Seaview Marina Limited’s chief executive, Alan McLellan said the impact of the fishing vessel caused significant damage to the 1960s built Wooden Bridge Decker launch and would be written off.
“I’m stuck in limbo,” McCoy said. “The hospital don’t want to know about me. ACC don’t want to know about me. I need help. Where do I go?” The doctor who declined McCoy s neurology referral suggested he seek an assessment in the private sector. Southern DHB General manager of the medicine, women’s and children directorate Simon Donlevy said the board could only provide a diagnosis and treatment based on the presenting symptoms, any relevant investigations and the medical history of the patient. “In doing so we cannot take into account any discussions that may be occurring between ACC (or indeed any other agency) and the patient; these must be resolved between those parties,” he said.