KEY POINTS:
Police are calling a group of people who had to be rescued after crashing their boat in the Whakatane River yesterday evening foolhardy.
Search and rescue coordinator Sergeant Andrew O'Reilly said six people were rescued after the boat misjudged the entrance to the river and crashed into rocks about 5pm.
The helmsman of the boat was inexperienced and several of the people on the boat had been drinking, he said.
The boat could not be salvaged and broke up polluting the river with a large amount of diesel and debris, he said.
This had the potential for loss of life and could only be described as foolhardy, Mr O'Reilly said.
It could not be stressed enough alcohol and boats do not mix.
Police advised fishermen and whitebaiters to be aware of diesel contamination of their catch and equipment, he said.
- NZPA
