Police dive squad members are helping in the search for a
70-year-old local man who disappeared after falling into Lake
Dunstan today.
The man had been rowing on the lake, near Cromwell about
8.30am, a southern communications police spokesperson said.
The man was on a single-person rowing skiff, which was found
overturned.
Emergency services including police, the coast guard and a
helicopter have been searching for the man through the day.
Police said boats had been used all day to search the area,
and foot-searches of the shoreline had also been conducted.
An extensive helicopter search was unsuccessful.
The police dive squad will operate until dusk tonight, and
the search will likely be resumed in the morning.
Lake Dunstan has been closed between Dairy Creek and the
Clyde Dam, police said.
Sergeant Ian Kerrisk, of the Alexandra police, said emergency
services were called to the Dunstan Arm Rowing Club
headquarters at Weatherall Creek at 8.30 am, after a man in a
single rowing skiff was seen to fall into the water and
failed to surface.
An extensive search of the lake and shoreline was carried out
but failed to locate the man.
"Given the time frame, the reality is moving towards
recovery, rather than a rescue,'' Sgt Kerrisk said this
morning.
The Clyde Coastguard and Clyde Fire Rescue boats and a
helicopter from Queenstown were used in the search and rowing
club members also assisted.
The helicopter was stood down at 10.40am but lake searches
continued throughout the day.
Victim Support people were with the man's family and no
further details were available about the missing man at this
stage, Sgt Kerrisk said.
lynda.van.kempen@odt.co.nz
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