Police have criticised two ''unprepared'' French tourists who capsized on Lake Wakatipu, despite knowing countrymen had drowned there four years ago.
The two men had to swim more than 100m to shore through cold, choppy waters on Sunday afternoon.
Their unsuitable canoe tipped over in the lake near one-mile roundabout on Glenorchy-Queenstown Rd at 5pm.
They had no wetsuits and poor quality life jackets, one of which floated away.
French backpackers Raphael Soubrier (21) and Yoann Firdion (24) died in the lake on the same week four years ago, on December 6, 2010.
They paddled across to Hidden Island in calm conditions in a child's plastic kayak with one paddle.
Winds had picked up when they attempted to paddle back to Queenstown Bay, creating a 1-metre swell, and they capsized.
Sergeant Steve Watt, of Queenstown Police, said the two men on Sunday were also in their early 20s.
''It was very similar circumstances to the two Frenchmen who died'', Sgt Watt said.
''And when I asked them about that, they were aware of that scenario''.
Sgt Watt said a passerby called police after seeing the upturned canoe and by the time officers arrived on the scene the pair had made it back to shore.
''They were extremely cold. We took them back to their house for a shower.
''We're thoroughly disappointed in the vessel that they've used and the preparations they've made for their trip.
''The equipment they had was completely inadequate. They were unskilled and unprepared for the journey they were taking.
''It was a potentially life-threatening situation that they were extremely lucky they got away with, with the knowledge of what happened to their countrymen''.
Queenstown harbourmaster Marty Black said Sunday's incident was ''ridiculous.''
Black said: ''Common sense must prevail.
''Tell someone where you're going, use a proper craft, follow local advice and life jackets are a must''.
