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Alden Williams / Things
A fisherman has been rescued after being trapped on an island in the Waimakariri River. (file photo)
A Canterbury helicopter was rescued by helicopter after being trapped on an island in the middle of a river in the midst of high water.
A police spokeswoman said emergency services were called to the rescue on the Waimakariri river this morning.
She said the person had been fishing from an island in the river when the water level rose, cutting off their output.
Search and Rescue had needed to figure out how to get the person off the island, and determined that a helicopter was needed.
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The person was picked up by helicopter and left on the river bank.
Fishing is allowed under the alert level 3 coronavirus restrictions, but fishermen are not allowed to use motorized boats and are asked to avoid risky situations.
The trout and salmon fishing season for that part of the Waimakariri ended on April 30, though Fish and Game has called for the season to be extended in parts of North Canterbury to make up for the “golden time” lost due to level 4 restrictions. .
NZ fires and emergencies also assisted in the incident, but were unable to communicate with the person, so they left the rescue with the police.
The Waimakariri increased its flow five times between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. on Sunday due to heavy rains at its headwaters, though it has since decreased to just over three times its original flow.
