Search for rower's body

An elderly rower is missing, presumed dead, after falling from his boat during a training exercise yesterday morning.

Emergency services began searching after witnesses saw the 70-year-old fall from his single scull on Lake Dunstan, near Cromwell, at about 8.30am. Conditions on the lake were calm.

The Clyde Coastguard and a rescue helicopter from Queenstown searched the area where the man was last seen, about 1km north of the Clyde Dam.

A police dive team arrived from Wellington and began searching for the man about 8pm. The search was called off about 30 minutes later because of fading light and Alexandra police Sergeant Ian Kerrisk said the rescue team did not expect to find the man alive.

"We're moving into a recovery mode rather than a rescue mode and have discussed that with the gentleman's family."

Police would not release the man's name until family members overseas had been contacted. Kerrisk said the man had lived in the area for a long time and was a member of the Dunstan Arm Rowing Club.

Deputy Harbour Master Shayne Hitchcock said the lake could be up to 60m deep in the area the man was last seen.