Tragic end to urgent search for three missing fishermen who disappeared while chasing bluefin tuna The bodies are yet to be identified Police found the remains on Wednesday READ MORE: Two women swept off the rocks at Sydney beach By Ben Mckay For Australian Associated Press Published: 21:52 EDT, 25 June 2024 | Updated: 22:09 EDT, 25 June 2024 e-mail View comments Three fishermen reported lost while chasing bluefin tuna have been found dead in New Zealand . Three bodies were found on the coastline near Mahia, south of Gisborne on the east coast of North Island on Wednesday morning. A woman claimed one of the missing men was Elwood Higgins, the New Zealand Herald reported.
She claimed she was a relative of Mr Higgins and uploaded a heartbreaking post to social media on Monday hoping he would be found. 'Come on my brother, [I am] breaking into pieces over here listening to this storm kicking in. Feeling sooo exhausted, scared and helpless,' she wrote.
'[I have] already been through enough heartbreak for this lifetime. Make your way home to us and bring your mates home with you too.' The group went missing on Monday, sparking a rescue effort including coastguard and the defence force, which was hampered by treacherous weather.
Two people were seen in the water by a freight vessel on Tuesday afternoon, according to Maritime NZ, which said 'they were unable to rescue them due to the dangerously difficult weather conditions'. A woman claimed one of the missing fisherman was Elwood H.
