Three have lucky escape after dam gates open

The Aratiatia Rapids. File photo / Daily Post

Three young people from Taupo had a lucky escape from the Waikato River today after hydro dam gates opened a torrent of water onto them.

Two women, aged 19 and 20, and a man, 19, were wading through rock pools downstream from the Aratiatia Dam, about 12km northeast of Taupo, when the dam's control gates opened about 4pm, Senior Constable Barry Shepherd of Taupo police said.

The women were swept away by the rapidly rising river but the man managed to stay on a rock.

Safety kayakers, who were working with a movie crew at the rapids, rescued the women and alerted Aratiatia Power Station staff, who quickly shut down the gates.

Meanwhile, tourists watching the drama unfold at the rapids lookout called police, who arranged a search and rescue team, Mr Shepherd said.

The young man stayed on the rock until the river level dropped, then walked to safety.

The two young women owed their lives to the kayakers who saved them and were quite candid when acknowledging that, Mr Shepherd said.

During summer the dam gates opened four times a day to show tourists the rapids as they were before the Waikato River hydro scheme was developed.

There were ample signs at the dam, where the trio had parked, warning of rapidly rising water levels, but despite being locals they were unaware they were risking their lives by going into the river bed, Mr Shepherd said.

- NZPA