A boating accident has claimed the lives of two people and left another two in hospital in critical condition.
Police were initially notified a boat was in trouble off Tiwai Point about 12.20pm yesterday.
A rescue operation involving police, helicopters, St John and the coastguard was launched.
In total, three helicopters were dispatched in relation to the incident.
About 2.25pm a St John spokeswoman said two people had been taken to Southland Hospital in critical condition.
At 3.40pm yesterday, police issued a statement saying two of the four people they believed to have been on the boat, had died.
‘‘Maritime New Zealand were advised and police are making inquiries into the deaths on behalf of the coroner.’’
The MetService maritime sea forecast for Bluff yesterday rated the boating conditions as bad, with wind at 18 knots and gusts of up to 23 knots, a chop height of 0.6m and a swell of 0.8m.
Bluff Community Board chairman Raymond Fife said the deaths were a tragedy.
‘‘Whether it was locals or people from Invercargill, our thoughts go out to the families.’’
He said the sea between Tiwai Point and Bluff had a very strong rip because of its narrowness.
‘‘If it’s a real windy day, it can be treacherous,’’ he said.
A Coastguard New Zealand spokesman said volunteers from Coastguard Bluff and Coastguard Riverton responded to the incident.
Police were seeking assistance from members of the public who may have seen a small boat in Bluff Harbour yesterday or who had CCTV footage of the harbour, ‘‘as this may be relevant to our inquiries’’.
- Police 105, number P048675341.
