Three men have been winched to safety this morning after being reported missing overnight while rafting on a Southland river.
Police were alerted at 9.30pm yesterday that the men failed to reach their designated pick-up point after a planned trip on the Waikaia River near Piano Flat.
“After making initial enquiries overnight, police search and rescue began the search at first light this morning,” a spokesperson said.
A Southern Lakes helicopter responded and located two inflatable watercraft in a gorge section of the river around 6.5km north of Piano Flat at around 11.30am.
One of the men was seen from the helicopter near the river’s edge with a leg injury, police said.
“The other two men were located nearby a short time later, cold but otherwise uninjured.”
The trio were winched to safety by the helicopter and were medically assessed.
The man with the leg injury was taken to hospital in an ambulance.
“Police would like to thank Land Search and Rescue volunteers from Southland, Eastern Southland, Catlins, and Fiordland, alongside Amateur Radio Emergency Communications,” a spokesperson said.
“Police would also like to thank the public who provided vital information of the area and terrain.”
