Police are investigating after a man died when he fell overboard from a fishing vessel southeast of the Catlins coast early yesterday (14 Jan), sparking an emergency search and rescue operation.

A spokesperson for the Rescue Coordination Centre says they were the coordinating authority for the search after receiving the emergency radio call soon after 7.30am (NZ time) that a person had gone overboard from a fishing vessel 40 nautical miles southeast of the Catlins coast.

“Vessels of interest and the Heli Otago (Otago Southland) rescue helicopter were tasked to assist,” she says.

“The person who went overboard was recovered.”

The matter was handed over to the Police.

Police were notified that a person had fallen overboard from a fishing vessel just before 8.30am when the rescue helicopter was sent to the scene, a Police spokesperson says.

A paramedic on board the helicopter confirmed that, sadly, the person had died, she says.

“The deceased remained on the vessel until the vessel was able to dock at Dunedin around 10pm last night (Wednesday, 14 Jan).

No further details were available tonight as to the circumstances surrounding the death.

The matter is now being investigated by Police on behalf of the coroner.

Sue Fea is a senior journalist with more than 40-years experience covering police, social and general news in the southern regions.