A person has passed away after a New Zealand flagged yacht encountered difficulty about 505 kilometres south west of Viti Levu while 2 survivors have been rescued.
The Republic of Fiji Navy says the RFNS Savenaca crew were able to board the yacht and retrieve the remaining survivor and the body of the deceased sailor.
They say another survivor was successfully retrieved by MV Explorer which had come to the scene upon hearing the distress call.
They have acknowledged the work of Rescue Coordination Centre NZ, the Pacific Explorer and The Beast which was on its way to NZ also diverted from it course and proceeded to the location after hearing the Mayday call.
Rescue Coordination Centre Fiji and the Fiji Navy Search and Rescue apparatus were activated on Monday upon receiving an alert and advise from RCC New Zealand.
Fiji Navy says in coordination with RCC NZ, MV Explorer, which was the nearest vessel to the last known position of the yacht was able to divert from its course and proceeded to the location of distress.
One survivor was picked up by the Fijian Navy vessel Savenaca, while the other was earlier transferred to the cruise ship, Pacific Explorer where they received medical treatment.
The NZ Herald reports that the small yacht was first intercepted by P&O cruise ship the Pacific Explorer.
The 2000-passenger pleasure cruiser was repositioning from Auckland to Suva when it diverted to the distress signal.
The New Zealand-flagged sailing vessel Second Life appeared to have a broken sail and the crew required medical assistance.
One crew member was winched aboard the cruise ship, while two others remained onboard, unable to be moved.
Due to rough weather, the cruise ship was unable to launch small tenders, the Pacific Explorer ship remaining at a safe distance and waiting for the Fijian navy to conduct a recovery operation for the sailing ship.
New Zealand Police and consular services have been notified.
The 12-metre yacht, which bears the lettering Second Life on its hull, was last seen in Nadi Bay on September 21st.
