One person has died and another is in hospital after their dinghy capsized in Papanui Inlet near Dunedin.
The pair were thrown into the water when their aluminium dinghy overturned in Papanui Inlet on the Otago Peninsula about 2pm today.
One person was able to hold onto a buoy, but struggled in the water and got into trouble, said police.
Witnesses at the scene helped the pair, along with emergency services including the Otago Rescue Helicopter, but one could not be revived.
The survivor was being treated for suspected water inhalation at Dunedin Public Hospital.
An initial investigation suggested the pair were not wearing life jackets, police said.
The matter was being referred to the coroner.
