Paddle Boarder – 01/11/2015 – 10:10 to

A member of the public reported to Ohope Surf Club that a paddle boarder was thought to be waving a paddle in distress 2-5km off Ohope School.  A few minutes later the paddle boarder had disappeared. Surf Club notified CG Whakatane and Whakatane Rescue was tasked to conduct a search. Conditions were good with no significant swell.  Surf Club IRB and Awanui helped with search.  The search pattern was extended  to cover inshore from the breakers to 40m mark and along the coast to Ohiwa Bar. After searching for over 1.5 hours with nothing found, the search was stood down.