Backpacker nearly drowns after being swept away trying to cross Queenstown river

Kinloch Lodge manager John Glover, left, with Belgian backpacker Stefan Cytryns who was pulled from Lake Wakatipu this afternoon. Photo/Supplied

A Belgian backpacker narrowly avoided drowning this afternoon after he was swept away while trying to cross a Queenstown river on foot.

Stefan Cytryns, 26, had asked at a local shop whether it was safe to wade across the Glenorchy delta to Kinloch, and had been told it was no more than knee-deep.

But with spring approaching the river is much higher than normal. Cytryns, who is travelling alone, managed to cross most of the delta but was swept off his feet in the main outlet. He was dragged by the strong current out into Lake Wakatipu, around 2pm.

Luckily the river mouth emerges near Kinloch Lodge, where manager John Glover's son James was home sick from school.

The 14-year-old heard Cytryns' distant yelling and alerted his dad. Glover said the Belgian was about 100m into Lake Wakatipu and was "visibly in trouble" and holding onto his rucksack trying to stay afloat.

Glover took the lodge's commercial boat out and pulled the struggling Cytryns from the near-freezing water, which comes directly off a glacier. He was fully clothed in tramping gear and boots and clutching his backpack.

He had been unable to move against the strong current and northwesterly winds that were picking up.

"It was lucky he was seen when he was - otherwise he was in danger of being blown away down the lake. I'd estimate it would be 20 - 30 minutes before hypothermia sets in."

Cytryns is staying the night at the Kinloch youth hostel. "He's hoping he can do the essentials - dry out his sleeping bag, dry out his cellphone and charger and then he will carry on hiking tomorrow," Glover said.

"I don't think he realised how lucky he was. Kinloch has a full-time population of eight people - he was really lucky someone saw him."

Glover has pulled several people from the lake in his time including a family of kayakers that couldn't make headway against the wind, and a windsurfer in full Santa Claus costume who had gone missing when his harness broke during the Queenstown Windsurfing Club's Christmas party.

"Obviously everyone that we rescue is a good outcome. Sadly we do get one or two every other year that are not a good outcome."

Council harbourmaster Marty Black said the near-tragedy was a timely reminder to anyone planning on visiting the water to be wary of the unexpected power of currents and to only cross if it was safe to do so.

"Unfortunately this man was given the wrong advice and misjudged the situation. Anyone visiting the water should seek advice from experts such as [the Department of Conservation] or the local harbourmaster if they are unsure of the safety.

"And if you're travelling or tramping alone, try to let people know where you are headed and an expected return time."

Attempting to walk across the delta was "stupid'', with hazards including sinking sand, very cold water and strong currents, Black said.

Black commended Glover for saving Cytryns' life.