By David Farrier
A helicopter was needed to rescue four teenagers from the roof of a four wheel drive, after a river crossing went wrong near Nelson earlier this evening.
This is the sight that confronted emergency workers who arrived at the Waimea River - three men and one woman marooned on the top of a four wheel drive.
Liz Kendrick heard about it from a friend.
“I got a text from one of the people in the car saying they were stuck in the river. [I] Didn't know what river.”
They'd been trying to cross the river but got stuck before being swept downstream.
Eventually their vehicle got caught by rocks, and they managed to climb on the roof and call 111.
Acting police sergeant Marty Bagnall decided a helicopter was the best option to get them back to dry land.
“[We] called the chopper in because the river itself was quite running quite fast.”
Alec Breen is the owner of the four wheel drive.
“I think maybe the current was too strong or something below us gave way and we went about 100m down the river,” he says.
He says he had only owned the vehicle for just over a week.
“[We were] just happily cruising through the river and all of a sudden away she went, and there it is,” Mr Breen says.
The four spent about an hour on the roof, and apart from being a little cold and embarrassed, were unharmed.
Police say its not the first time people have got stuck crossing the river - and that tonight's rescue should serve as a warning for inexperienced drivers.
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