Two people have been plucked from Lake Ellesmere/Te Waihora after their motorised dinghy sank this afternoon.
LandSar sent a rescue launch and St John a rescue helicopter to the lake, near Banks Peninsula, south of Christchurch, about 5.40pm.
A caller told police he saw two occupants in the vessel as it sank.
The rescue helicopter took one person to hospital.
![The pair's motorised dinghy sinking in Lake Ellesmere. Photo / Canterbury Air Rescue](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/SPYXEYQXLO4MK52MAB5F2GLBTU.jpg?auth=3e17b842339a7cc831c0a25d589bcccf7c7f0a589fc2c5b997218bd5b33f7eec&width=16&height=33&quality=70&smart=true)