Two men winched out of Fiordland river after Christmas Day capsize

• Two men were winched to safety after their boat capsized near Big River, Prices Point.
• Coastguard Riverton responded quickly after a personal locator beacon was activated at 1.51pm.
• The rescue was one of 20 on Christmas Day; boaties are reminded to carry two communication forms and wear lifejackets.

Two boaties had to be winched from a Fiordland river after a Christmas Day boat ride almost turned deadly.

Coastguard Riverton said the boat the men were on capsized near the mouth of Big River, Prices Point.

The pair were found clinging to the hull of the 4m long aluminium boat after the Coastguard was alerted to their distress via a personal locator beacon at 1.51pm.

“They were winched to safety, while Coastguard Riverton recovered the boat,” a Coastguard post said online.

Photos of the rescue shared online showed a helicopter hovering over the boat before the men were hoisted into the air.

The Coastguard said on a social media post they responded as soon as the men’s personal locator beacon (PLB) was activated.

Coastguard Riverton reminded boat users to wear life jackets and carry personal locater beacons. Photo / Coastguard Riverton.

They also said the rescue was one of 20 over Christmas, although most of them were not urgent.

Coastguard said they wanted to remind boaties of the importance of having two forms of communication (such as a VHF radio, mobile phone, a registered PLB and/or an emergency position-indicating radio beacon, or EPRIB) and wearing lifejackets whenever heading out on the water.

“A huge shoutout to RCCNZ, our incredible volunteers at our Operations Centre and Coastguard Riverton, and the rescue helicopter crew who swapped their Christmas lunches to help others in need,” the post read.

“Stay safe out there, whānau – and remember, a registered PLB and lifejackets can save lives.”

Rachel Maher is an Auckland-based reporter who covers breaking news. She has worked for the Herald since 2022.