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Alert boaties plucked three men and five children to safety from a sinking boat on Lake Te Anau on Saturday.
Te Anau police said the boat got into trouble near the entrance to South Arm about 5pm when a strong southerly wind built up.
The boat was one of about 200 on Lake Te Anau involved in the 2008 Stabi-Craft-Yamaha Te Anau Fishing Tournament.
Balclutha boatie Trevor Miller, who had two teenage boys and an adult aboard his boat, told the Southland Times they had been fishing near South Arm when the weather worsened and he decided to make a run for shore.
As they headed in, he noticed a smaller boat also making for shore.
"I slowed down a bit to keep with them and told the boys to keep an eye on their boat. I've always been safety conscious and I hope someone would have done the same for me."
The 4.9m fibreglass cabin boat was struck by two large waves and sank stern-first, within 30 seconds, leaving only the bow above water.
Mr Miller turned back and found five children and three men clinging to the submerged hull.
Ski ropes were used to pull those in the water aboard before another boat arrived and pulled the last child and adult from the water.
The group was taken ashore where a St John officer treated them.
Sergeant Tod Hollebon said the swamping was so fast it would have been impossible to send a mayday call, and the survival of the group was a direct result of the actions of the rescuers.
"Those people on hand were literally lifesavers," he said.
The children ranged in age from four to nine years and had been wearing life jackets at the time. None of the three men, aged 30, 38 and 41, was wearing a life jacket at the time. All were from Gore and Te Anau.
A helicopter with scoop net and a number of vessels were called to assist, but all those involved were safely on board the rescue boats before they arrived.
- NZPA
