Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Three men in boating tragedy named

Two of the men involved in a boating accident on Lake Tekapo in south Canterbury were father and son.

A family member reported three men missing last night after they failed to return from a fishing day trip on the lake, about 100km northwest of Timaru.

A rescue helicopter found the body of Alexander Haywood, a 72-year-old from Pleasant Point, near Motuariki Island in the middle of the lake at 7.30am.

The search continues today for his son Anthony Haywood, 46, and Murray Green, 54, both from Timaru.

Searchers believed their boat may have capsized after the wind picked up and conditions became choppy, Constable Brent Swanson of Tekapo police said.

About 3.30am an Iroquois helicopter found the men's submerged boat about 50m from the Cass River outlet, about halfway up the lake on the western side.

Rescuers were attempting to recover the boat today.

The Westpac Rescue Helicopter from Christchurch was sent at first light and discovered Alexander Haywood's body, Mr Swanson said.

Twenty land search and rescue members and three local boats were searching for the other two men.

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