Police are urging all boaties and water users to take care on Central Otago's rivers after three Frenchmen were tossed into the Clutha River when their home-built raft overturned at Alexandra yesterday.
None of the men, aged 21, 22, and 25, were wearing lifejackets, and emergency rescue calls were made to police and a volunteer coastguard service.
Sergeant Ian Kerrisk, of Alexandra, said the men were floating down the river about 5pm when they got into trouble at the confluence of the Manuherikia and Clutha Rivers, just beyond the old Alexandra bridge piers.
"It's a timely reminder to everyone that while those rivers may look gentle, they are deceptively fast flowing, and people can easily get themselves into trouble. Anyone on the water needs to wear a lifejacket," he said.
People on a nearby boat witnessed the incident, but their attempts to rescue the French men were rejected.
Sgt Kerrisk said when police were on their way to the river they located the men walking towards Alexandra.
All three had swum ashore without injury, and after talking to police about the incident, they donated $150 to the coastguard service.
"It's been made absolutely clear to them that it's not acceptable behaviour, as they put themselves and others trying to rescue them at risk," Sgt Kerrisk said.
