'Foolish' canoeist survives huge seas

A canoeist who went out in "huge" seas off Christchurch yesterday dragged himself out of the surf as police searched for his body.

The man, known as "Lloyd", paddled out of the swollen Waimakariri River mouth at Kairaki Beach, north of Christchurch, about 2.30pm, The Press reported.

"The sea was just huge and the wind was up. It was very foolish what he did," witness Crawford Liddell said.

"He went past me like a rocket. I thought he was gone. Everyone did."

Mr Liddell phoned police when he realised the man was in trouble.

Anthony Goldie said residents gathered on the beach trying to catch sight of the man but all they could see was his canoe, which he became seperated from.

He appeared to float "out the back" of the big waves before swimming to shore.

"We thought it would be a body, but he is a fit boy," Mr Goldie said.

"That's the only reason that he survived, because he is so fit."

Sergeant Dave Joke said police thought they were looking for a body "but he's come in on his own".

The man suffered mild hypothermia and was treated by paramedics before driving himself home.

- NZPA