A Dunedin fisherman is ''dead lucky'' to be alive after being swept from rocks at Seal Point, on Otago Peninsula, this morning.
The man, aged about 40, was fishing with a friend when he was dragged into the sea by a large wave about 10.50am, police said.
The weather at the time was fine the sea was described as calm with a moderate swell.
He was plucked from the water about 30 minutes later by one of three private fishing vessels which joined the search.
The Otago Regional Rescue Helicopter, which was conducted low-level sweeps of the water, then transferred the man to shore, where paramedics worked on him before he was flown to Dunedin Hospital.
Senior Constable Lox Kellas, of Portobello, said the man was hypothermic, but conscious and talking, and ''dead lucky'' to be alive.
He was not wearing a life jacket while fishing off the rocks, and he was lucky his friend had been able to raise the alarm quickly despite ''marginal'' cellphone coverage in the area.
Snr Const Kellas praised the quick response by private fishing vessels in the area, as well as emergency services, for averting a ''tragedy''.
