KEY POINTS:
Four people are safe and well after being rescued from a life raft off the southern Fiordland Coast early today.
The boaties sent out an emergency signal at 10pm yesterday after their vessel the Solander hit a reef and sank.
A rescue helicopter located the life raft, off Puysegur Point, at 12.20am today, but was unable to winch the four to safety because of 2m swells.
"A fishing vessel from Preservation Inlet in Fiordland, the Abrollis, responded to our request for a vessel to rescue those on board the life raft," Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand mission controller Tracy Brickles said.
"The Abrollis reached the life raft, with the helicopter pointing the way overhead, at around 1.30 am this morning."
The four people were picked up and taken to Weka Island in Preservation Inlet. From there they will be flown by helicopter to Invercargill.
Ms Brickles said all four were uninjured and in good spirits.
The Solander is a recreational vessel, although previously it was a commercial fishing boat.
- NZPA
