Body recovered after car crashes into sea

A woman's body has been recovered from a car that left the road and went into the sea near Sumner in Christchurch.

Her body was located within half an hour of the Police Dive Squad entering the water this morning.

Yesterday, a man, who is related to the woman and was driving, managed to get out of the car and has received hospital treatment.

Police were notified just before 6pm yesterday that a car had entered the water and emergency services were sent to the scene.

A witness said the car appeared to have taken the corner too quickly and came off the road.

Two occupants, a man and a woman, were inside the vehicle and lifeguards from the Sumner surf life saving club, police and members of the public got into the water to help the trapped pair, the witness said.  "It was pretty intense."

Rescuers were able to get the driver out, but the woman was trapped in the submerged vehicle.

The witness told the New Zealand Herald the section of the beach where the car entered the water had a notorious undercurrent and other people at the scene said they saw the car being swept out to sea before it went out of sight.

Inquiries will now be made to ensure further family members are notified.

Canterbury police will continue to investigate the incident.