Missing kneeboarder in Clutha River

At about 3.30pm today Balclutha Police were notified of a jetboating kneeboarding accident on the Clutha River in the Waitahuna confluence area.

Information was that a family had been on the river in the vicinity kneeboarding with their sons when one of the sons fell from the kneeboard and did not surface as expected.

Immediate efforts by those on board failed to locate the male and police were called. Following this the Dunedin Rescue Helicopter was dispatched with a paramedic and swift water specialist staff on board. Six local jetboaters assisted and will continue until 9pm to comb the river in attempts to locate the missing person.

Local search and rescue volunteers have been called in to assist the jetboaters and conduct river bank searches. Five Police staff and over 30 volunteers have been working to locate the missing male.

The family have also had the assistance of a friend's helicopter which has been used to search the areas down stream of the last reported sighting.

Efforts have been hampered by the high level of the river and the poor visibility as a result of spilling from the headwaters.

Further co-ordinated search teams and jet boats will be deployed into the area again tomorrow to continue the search for the missing male.

ENDS

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