Matthew Rogatski and Heath Bagnall
On the 17th of May 2019, Heath Bagnall and Matt Rogatski were providing aerial spraying services near the Taramakau River, near Kumara.
The river was very dirty and running faster than usual. Two men were on the river in a mini jet boat, which flipped under the William Stuart Bridge, and both men, neither of whom were wearing life-jackets, began floating downstream.
A friend on land heard their cries, and attempted to throw them a rope and wade into the river himself, but retreated back to shore.
Mr Rogatski had heard the jet boat engine stop abruptly and he observed what had happened.
He radioed Mr Bagnall, who was flying the helicopter, and told him about the accident and that there were two people in the river.
Mr Bagnall jettisoned his spray and picked up Mr Rogatski, who climbed aboard with two empty jerry cans.
Mr Bagnall spotted one of the men in the river, and Mr Rogatski threw him a jerry can to act as a flotation device. Unfortunately the man was unable to grab it – or the next can that Mr Rogatski threw to him.
Mr Rogatski climbed down onto the helicopter skid and Mr Bagnall manoeuvred the helicopter so that Mr Rogatski was lowered into the river up to his thighs. He attempted to grab the man’s shirt but missed. The man also tried to grab Mr Rogatski’s legs but did not have the strength to hold on and he slipped below the surface.
The crew then focussed on the other man in the water. Mr Bagnall manoeuvred the helicopter so that it hovered over him and he was able to grab Mr Rogatski’s legs. Mr Rogatski held onto his shirt and he was dragged to the southern bank of the river, where his friend on shore could provide help. The rescued man was taken to hospital for treatment.
Mr Bagnall and Mr Rogatski returned to the river to locate the missing man, who they saw in a swift current. They determined that it would be unsafe to attempt a body retrieval at that time and they left the area to refuel. They then continued the search in conjunction with a Police spotter, but the man’s body could not be located.