A 10-year-old boy was left distressed after his father began to have seizures when out fishing in the Bay of Islands.

The pair were near Roberton Island when the seizures began just before midday yesterday.

Coastguard spokesperson Georgie Smith said people on nearby boats, including a paramedic on board the Spirit of New Zealand, came to the 48-year-old man's aid after seeing the boy extremely upset.

"He's a young boy, so not a nice situation for anyone to be in, but he was great and the coastguard volunteers were able to comfort him and transport him and their vessel back to Opua to meet his mother," she said.

According to Smith the boy's father was transferred to Roberton Island, where he was taken to hospital by helicopter.