A dinghy and one of three people that got into trouble near Portobello yesterday are taken back to shore. PHOTO: GREGOR RICHARDSON
Late yesterday afternoon the three took their small dinghy to board another vessel in Portobello Bay.
Senior Constable Aaron Smith said at the scene it was windy and conditions were choppy, and as they boarded one man fell in the water.
He decided to swim for shore.
Snr Const Smith said a local farmer on a property above the bay raised the alarm and helped the man ashore.
A police spokeswoman said last night the vessel that took the other two people and dinghy to shore was from the Marine Studies Centre at Portobello.
One man was in an ambulance when the Otago Daily Times arrived, but left not long after.
Another who was rescued said it was ``a dumb idea going out there in the first place''.
