One person was reported missing and another recovered from the rocks and flown to hospital after a boat overturned crossing the Catlins River bar this morning, sparking a rescue mission amid rough conditions.
Shortly before noon, police said a search was under way for the missing person after it received reports of a capsized vessel near Jacks Bay at about 10.40am.
A witness said they later saw the rescue boats returning.
Another person who was on board the vessel at the time of the accident was spotted on some rocks nearby and emergency services were still trying to rescue them as of 11.30am.
A St John spokeswoman said the person on the rocks was later taken by rescue helicopter to Dunedin Hospital in a moderate condition.