Three fishermen who went missing while chasing bluefin tuna have been found dead in New Zealand.
Three bodies were found on the coast near Mahia, south of Gisborne, on the east coast of the North Island, on Wednesday morning.
A woman claimed that one of the missing men was Elwood Higgins, the New Zealand Herald reported.
She claimed she was related to Mr Higgins and on Monday uploaded a heartbreaking post to social media in the hope he would be found.
“Come on, my brother, (I’m) breaking down here listening to this storm. I feel so exhausted, scared and helpless,” she wrote.
‘(I’ve) been through enough heartbreaks in this life. Come home with us and bring your friends with you too.
The group went missing on Monday, prompting a rescue effort including the coastguard and defense forces, which was hampered by treacherous weather.
A cargo ship saw two people in the water on Tuesday afternoon, according to Maritime NZ, which said they were “unable to rescue them due to dangerously difficult weather conditions.”
A woman claimed one of the missing fishermen was Elwood Higgins (pictured)
“The ship attempted to provide the men with all available rescue materials they could throw overboard, including life rings and flotsam,” said Rescue Coordination Center general manager Justin Allan.
Amid six-metre waves and 50-knot gusts, an NZDF P-8A Poseidon dropped a life raft into the sea in that area on Tuesday afternoon, before the search was halted after dark.
Police announced the discovery of the bodies early Wednesday.
“Formal identification is ongoing, but they are believed to be the fishermen reported missing on Monday,” a statement read.
Tatapouri Sports Fishing Club president Roger Faber said the anglers were part of a group, including himself, who went out on Monday hoping for better weather.
“Over the weekend we caught some good bluefin tuna in Gisborne,” he told Radio NZ.
‘The forecast was five knot winds all day, it was definitely a weather window… a few guys went fishing and we all communicated with each other.’
‘Unfortunately, the weather was not as expected. We expected it to get better, but it didn’t get better, it got worse.
“We attempted to contact the missing boat…when we returned to the boat ramp and discovered its trailer was still there, that’s when our concerns increased and we raised the alarm.”
Faber said the trio were all members of the club, experienced at sea, well known and respected.
The fisherman’s bodies were found on the coast near Mahia (pictured), south of Gisborne, on the east coast of New Zealand’s North Island.
“The whole community, whanau and friends are suffering greatly from this news… it was the worst thing that could have happened,” he said.
The storm has flooded the Hawke’s Bay, Gisborne and Tairawhiti regions, prompting evacuations in some coastal communities.
Several roads in the region are closed due to flooding and landslides, including key route SH35, and crews are also struggling to restore power to a number of areas.
The same region was hardest hit by Cyclone Gabrielle last February, with nine people killed amid widespread damage to property and infrastructure.