The sole survivor of a boating tragedy which claimed the lives of his father and brother on Lake Taupo left the two men clinging to a chilly bin as he swam to shore for help.
Turangi police acting senior sergeant Neale Saunders said Stephen Roger Pervan, 54, of Coromandel and his son Ben Doyle Pervan, 28, of Albany died while on a family fishing trip on Lake Taupo.
A 27-year old Auckland man survived.
The three men had gone fishing on the lake about 7.30pm yesterday, leaving from the Tokaanu end of the lake and had headed to an area known as the Tongariro Delta. They were not wearing life jackets, police said.
About midnight the group began the return to shore when after a few moments the aluminium dinghy was swamped and the three men were thrown into the water.
The men used a chilly bin for flotation until the 27-year-old decided to swim to shore.
Mr Saunders told NZPA that when the man left, his father and brother were still alive, clinging to the chilly bin.
About 9am today the man was picked up by a passing boatie who raised the alarm.
Police and Coastguard found the other two men soon after.
