At about 12:25pm Sunday a small boat with two people on board overturned in heavy surf near the mouth of the Greymouth River.
The two males were thrown into the water but the boat righted itself. The men climbed back aboard and attempted to bail out the water but were overturned again.
Greymouth Police were called and went to the Cobden Tip Head to observe the boat. Coastguard were called and dispatched an inflatable rescue boat.
An 18 year old male and 24 year old male were body-boarding nearby and, at the request of the attending Police, they swam to the boatees and helped keep them afloat until rescue arrived.
The two males were in the water for about 40 minutes. One 64 year old male was semi-hypothermic and had cuts to his leg. The other 52 year old male was cold with a sore shoulder. Neither required hospital treatment.
The males were wearing lifejackets and had a marine radio. "They were well-equipped but in the wrong place" said a Police spokesperson.
Greymouth Police were delighted with the response of the public. Several people phoned Police and the Coastguard and provided valuable information. The two body-boarders were instrumental in this rescue and helped keep the boatees calm while waiting. Other locals helped by providing binoculars to the Police and others pulled the upturned boat to shore and secured it.
"This was a community response that helped keep these men alive and recovered their boat and property" Police said