POAVOSA WISDOM VII

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Man who jumped over board rescued after 23 hours

A Myanmar crew member jumped off the 'Poavosa Wisdom VII' in the evening Nov 2, 2021, in the hope of seeking asylum in New Zealand and spent nearly 24 hours in freezing water near Gisborne. The weather was good at the time but turned as he as swimming, and the strong current pulled him offshore. He was wearing an immersion suit, but water had seeped in after hours of swimming, soaking him completely long before he was located by the Eastland Port pilot vessel 'Rere Moana' on Nov 2 just before 5 p.m. He was taken to Gisborne Hospital suffering from hypothermia and was now isolating after a negative Covid-19 test at a facility in Gisborne as a precaution. The man was due to return to Myanmar at the end of his contract in two months' time, but said his life would be in danger if he went home. His family belonged to the Hindu minority group in the Buddhist majority country and had taken part in the nationwide pro-democracy uprising.