Police dive squad members are helping in the search for a 70-year-old local man who disappeared after falling into Lake Dunstan today.
The man had been rowing on the lake, near Cromwell about 8.30am, a southern communications police spokesperson said.
The man was on a single-person rowing skiff, which was found overturned.
Emergency services including police, the coast guard and a helicopter have been searching for the man through the day.
Police said boats had been used all day to search the area, and foot-searches of the shoreline had also been conducted. An extensive helicopter search was unsuccessful.
The police dive squad will operate until dusk tonight, and the search will likely be resumed in the morning.
Lake Dunstan has been closed between Dairy Creek and the Clyde Dam, police said.
Sergeant Ian Kerrisk, of the Alexandra police, said emergency services were called to the Dunstan Arm Rowing Club headquarters at Weatherall Creek at 8.30 am, after a man in a single rowing skiff was seen to fall into the water and failed to surface.
An extensive search of the lake and shoreline was carried out but failed to locate the man.
"Given the time frame, the reality is moving towards recovery, rather than a rescue,'' Sgt Kerrisk said this morning.
The Clyde Coastguard and Clyde Fire Rescue boats and a helicopter from Queenstown were used in the search and rowing club members also assisted.
The helicopter was stood down at 10.40am but lake searches continued throughout the day.
Victim Support people were with the man's family and no further details were available about the missing man at this stage, Sgt Kerrisk said.
