Sinking may have happened early on fishing trip

Whatever went catastrophically wrong for three South Canterbury fishermen on Lake Tekapo on Wednesday happened early in their trip, police believe.

A rescue helicopter found the body of Alexander Haywood, a 72-year-old from Pleasant Point, near Motuariki Island in the middle of the lake early yesterday.

His son Anthony Haywood, 46, and friend Murray Green, 54, both from Timaru, remain missing.

The trio headed out on to the lake mid-morning and the alarm was raised by family members when they had not returned by 10.30pm that night.

Police believe the men's boat may have capsized after the wind picked up, creating choppy conditions.

Senior Constable Brent Swanson, of Tekapo police, said that the men had planned to fish at the McCauley River mouth, but there was no indication they made it there.

The 1973 four-metre Flylight boat was found about 50 metres from the lake's western shore.

It contained lunches, a full thermos, and lifejackets.

That indicated that whatever happened to the men possibly happened early, Mr Swanson told The Press.

"The victim we pulled from the water -- his watch stopped at 12.20pm. We think something occurred quite early on in the piece."

Mr Swanson said it was not clear whether the men were wearing lifejackets. However, Mr Haywood was not wearing a lifejacket when he was found.

Yesterday's search was suspended as light faded and it was accepted the men would not be found alive.

Mr Swanson said the search team would revisit the lake in "a couple of days time".

"We have found lots of debris and stuff from the boat, but, unfortunately, Lake Tekapo swallows bodies and doesn't give them back to us."

It is understood Tony Haywood had recently bought the runabout that was swamped on the lake.

It was lifted from the water last night and taken to the Lake Tekapo township for inspection by Maritime New Zealand.