Police and Department of Conservation (DOC) staff today were involved in the rescue of two persons who had gotten into difficulty shortly after launching their hired kayaks onto the Whanganui River from the Cherry Grove area in Taumaranui. A DOC boat with DOC staff and a police officer carried out the rescues. A woman had become trapped in an overhanging tree and her male partner had gone to assist.
Police had a rescue helicopter on standby but this was stood down once they were safety back on land.
Police have spoken to the kayak operator and further enquiries are pending.
“Police are concerned over a recent spate of similar incidents on the Whanganui River and a meeting is being held in Ohakune next week to help address this. The meeting is not open to the public but will involve kayak operators and the jet boat operators who regularly carry out rescues on the river,“ said Sgt Bill Nicholson Central District police SAR Coordinator. “We will be reviewing some recent rescues and will be looking at improving our response model as well as addressing some prevention first initiatives”
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