Palmerston North police and a rescue team have recovered a second unattended boat within a week from the Manawatu River.
A kayaker who was boating near the Teacher's Training College saw the yellow inflatable raft beached on the side of the river under "Pork Chop" Hill about 5pm yesterday, Sergeant Andy Brooke said.
The boat was abandoned and was carrying two short oars, two t-shirts and a small back pack containing a portable air pump, which were collected by the kayaker.
On this occasion there was nothing to indicate that a search needed to be initiated for anyone, Mr Brooke said. The discovery of the boat came on the heels of a weekend incident when police searched the Manawatu Gorge looking for anyone who might have been tipped out of another floating and unattended inflatable raft.
It turned out the raft belonged to a Woodville farmer who was playing in the river with his three teenage children when one of them cut his head.
The boy was taken to hospital leaving the raft on the riverbank.
After rain the river level rose carrying the raft downstream.
Mr Brooke said it was disappointing police had to potentially put their lives at risk for these types of searches which could be avoided with a little more responsibility on the water and police were urging owners to keep boats and equipment more secure.
Police would like to be able to return the raft so if anyone has any information about the owner they were asked to contact Palmerston North police.
