By 1news.co.nz and is republished with permission
Two people have died and one person remains missing after a boat with five people on board capsized on a sand bar west of Invercargill this afternoon.
Emergency services were alerted to the capsize on the Riverton Bar at 2.55pm on Saturday.
Southland Area Commander Mike Bowman said the recreational craft capsized 100m off shore.
Two people were recovered alive from the water and brought to shore before they were taken to Southland Hospital, he said.
“A third person was unresponsive when brought to shore and tragically was unable to be revived by emergency services staff.
“A fourth person was located deceased in the water, and the search for the fifth person remains ongoing.”
Bowman said “significance resource” has been deployed including police, Coastguard Riverton, Coastguard Bluff, Hato Hone St John, Fire and Emergency NZ and search and rescue volunteers.
“This is an absolute tragedy and our hearts go out to all those impacted by this devastating incident.”
Family and next of kin notifications are being undertaken and there will be no further information until it has been confirmed these have taken place, he said.
“Any updates on the search for the missing person will be provided via media release.”
