Police warning after search launched for Nelson boaties

The men swam to Pepin Island, in Cable bay north of Nelson, after their boat sunk. Image / Google Maps

Boaties have been reminded to tell police if they get into trouble, after a search and rescue operation was launched for two men who got themselves to safety after their boat became submerged.

The drama began when Nelson police were told at 6.30pm last night that an overturned boat had been spotted in the water near Cable Bay.

Senior Sergeant Stu Koefoed, of Nelson, said the person who called emergency services reported earlier seeing two people fishing in the boat.

"Emergency services had grave concerns for the safety of the people on board and swiftly began a search and rescue operation to try and locate them.

"A helicopter was deployed, along with Coastguard, surf rescue teams and Search and Rescue staff."

Police also began making inquiries with potential owners of the boat and a vehicle found nearby, Koefoed said.

A Facebook appeal for information was also made by police - a post that was spotted by the men who had been on the boat.

They called police to say they were safe.

"They reported the boat had become submerged and they had swum ashore on nearby Pepin Island.

"From there they rang acquaintances to help them get home."

The men had got a lot of the rules of boating safety right, Koefoed said.

"They were carrying their phones in a dry bag and they were wearing lifejackets, which is fantastic."

But police wanted to remind boaties to tell police immediately if they got into trouble.

"We take every report such as this incredibly seriously and if we had been contacted by the men earlier we wouldn't have had to launch a full scale search and take resources away from other areas.

"We're here to help, so any time you're in trouble, please call 111 right away."