The four occupants of the vehicle were apparently driving in the river when their vehicle rolled onto its side.
They were able to get out of the vehicle and onto its roof where they set off an emergency locator beacon.
The distress call was heard at around 9am and responded to by members of the Aoraki Mt Cook Department of Conservation Search and Rescue Team, as well as the Otago Rescue Helicopter.
Jono Gillan, Aoraki Department of Conservation Search and Rescue Team leader, said with heavy rain falling, the team used a rope system to reach the people stranded on the vehicle.
The helicopter was able to hover to pick the people up. The four were cold and wet and had been on top of the vehicle for two hours before the rescuers arrived on the scene at 11.10 am, Gillan said. It took 45 minutes to get them all into the helicopter.
The four - who were uninjured - were taken to a nearby hut, where they were picked up by the Otago Rescue Helicopter and taken to Mosgiel. They’d recovered sufficiently to be able to go home.
“Undoubtedly, the rescuers saved four lives today,” Senior Search and Rescue Officer Tracy Brickles said.
