Wanaka Coastguard president Jonathan Walmisley has praised the actions of three water-based tourist companies which assisted in its search for a man who drowned near Stevensons Island on Friday. Mr Walmisley said Paddle Wanaka, Lakeland Adventures and Eco Wanaka ''were all up there''. He was found not far from where he swam out to retrieve a boat that had drifted away near Stevensons Island. Mr Walmisley said the Wanaka Coastguard rescue vessel with a crew of three was on the water for five hours carrying out full searches of the surface many times. The Wanaka Coastguard vessel is housed at the A&P showgrounds.

Source: Otago Daily Times December 18, 2017 14:48 UTC