A search and rescue operator says he would have given advice on an air search for three missing boaties if he had known the policeman in charge of the search was working alone.
Neville Blakemore, of the Rescue Co-ordination Centre, made the comments at an inquest into the death of Geoffrey Hampton.
The 19-year-old died in his father's arms after spending more than 12 hours in the water off the coast of Wanganui in February.
Mr Blakemore says he did not pass on advice about air searches because he assumed that the police officer controlling the search was already being advised about the available options.
He says Rescue Co-ordination Centre staff are now more probing in their questioning of search and rescue co-ordinators.
