- Three men were rescued after failing to reach their pick-up point on the Waikaia River, near Piano Flat.
- A helicopter located them, with one man suffering a leg injury near the river’s edge.
- Emergency teams and volunteers played a crucial role in the successful rescue effort.
A dramatic rescue mission unfolded on the Waikaia River after three men were reported missing while rafting near Piano Flat. The group had not arrived at their designated pick-up point, prompting police to begin an immediate search.
Authorities were alerted at around 9.30pm last night and, after initial enquiries overnight, Police Search and Rescue launched a full-scale search at first light this morning.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand provided a Command Truck to serve as a forward base at Piano Flat. Southern Lakes Helicopters – Te Anau assisted in the search, spotting two inflatable watercrafts in a gorge section of the river, approximately 6.5km north of Piano Flat.
At around 11.30am, the helicopter crew spotted one of the men near the river’s edge. He had suffered a leg injury. The other two men were found nearby soon after. While cold, they were otherwise uninjured.
The helicopter winched all three men to safety before they received medical assessments. The injured man was transported to hospital by ambulance for further treatment.
Police expressed gratitude to Land Search and Rescue volunteers from Southland, Eastern Southland, Catlins, and Fiordland, as well as Amateur Radio Emergency Communications. They also acknowledged the public for providing valuable information about the area’s terrain, which assisted in the rescue.