Water rescue near Bird Island Dunedin

At approximately 8.30pm last night police received a 111 call about 2 divers that were possoibly in trouble near Bird Island off the Tomahawk Beach area.

A search operation was launched to located the pair using two helicopters from the Otago Rescue Helicopter trust with members of the Dunedin Water Rescue Squad and members of the Surf Life Saving Squad in two rescue boats which launched from St Kilda Surf Club.

Two divers out to get some paua became caught in a rip near Bird Island off from Tomahawk Beach.

They were seen by a member of the public who believed they were having difficulty and notified police.

The males aged 43 and 26 yrs were in the water for about an hour before they made it to shore by themselves and where they were spoken to by police.

They were both uninjured but thankful for the assistance they received, Sgt White said.

ENDS

© Scoop Media