Three in hospital after boat sinks in Southland river

Three people are in hospital after their boat sank on a Southland river near Invercargill on Saturday morning.

Police said the boaties got into trouble at the Ōreti River, near West Plains Road, about 10.30am.

Two people got out of the water themselves and contacted emergency services, and the other person was rescued.

Three people were taken to Southland Hospital, two in a serious condition and one in a moderate condition, St John Ambulance said.

Two trucks from Fire and Emergency also helped during the rescue.

Earlier in September, a person was seriously injured in a jet boat crash on the Ōreti River at Mavora.

Four people were believed to have been in the boat at the time of that crash. One person reportedly suffered a leg injury, and one person a minor head injury.

A St John spokesperson said one person was ejected from the boat when it hit a rock.

One patient with serious injuries was flown by helicopter to Dunedin Hospital, while a person with moderate injuries was taken to Invercargill Hospital.