A dramatic winch rescue from a cruise liner off the Northland coast was exactly what rescuers train for, according to the Northland Rescue Helicopter pilot . The January 30 rescue was required for a crew member who suffered a serious eye injury and needed urgent hospital specialist treatment, mission captain Josh Peacey said. The cruise ship Diamond Princess, which takes 2670 passengers and 1100 crew, was sailing to Auckland from Brisbane and was about 37km east of Matauri Bay when the rescue was needed.
Peacey, who has been a pilot for about 10 years , said this was his first winch from a cruise ship at sea. Fortunately, conditions were good with favourable weather, daylight and a competent crew aboard the ship, he said..