Tramper rescued across swollen Haast River

A young woman tramper has been rescued, wet, cold but otherwise unharmed after being trapped on the wrong side of the Haast River near Fantail Falls this afternoon.

The Wanaka Swift Water Rescue team successfully floated the woman across the flood-swollen river on a rubber raft.

The woman had been staying in a hut on the east side of the river but found she could not cross the river safely to return to her car.

Wanaka detective Al Lee said the woman had made the right decision to stay put until rescuers arrived.

Team member Dave Cassaidy said they had been practising in Wanaka when they received the call, and were expecting to be back in the Haast Pass area again on Sunday for more practice.

Heavy rain is falling in the area and all rivers are higher than normal.