4 Nov 2019

NZ woman rescued near Greece coast after going missing on dinghy

2:22 pm on 4 November 2019

A New Zealand woman lost on a dinghy off the coast of Greece survived two nights adrift before being rescued by the coast guard.

Old Venetian Harbor of Heraklion on the island of Crete, Greece.

Old Venetian Harbor of Heraklion on the island of Crete, Greece. Photo: 123RF

The Hellenic Coast Guard said seven of its patrol vessels, a Navy helicopter and three private vessels joined the search.

The 47-year-old woman was found on Sunday night and transported to the port of Heraklion.

Greek media reports say the woman is in Greece on holiday with her husband, sailing the Aegean, and got into a dinghy to go shopping on a nearby island.

The reports say she went missing after returning to the dinghy.

The New Zealand Embassy in Rome and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade has been providing consular assistance to the woman in Greece.

For privacy reasons they cannot provide further information.