Alcohol and lilos proved a troublesome mix for a group of 10 young men who sparked a large scale search and rescue opertaion on the Hutt River north of Wellington last night.
Wellington Police District operations manager Inspector Mike Wright said the men, aged in their late teens and early 20s, set out from the Kaitoke Waterworks about 1pm yesterday on an expedition to the Hutt River Gorge.
"There was very little planning put into the trip and the group was ill-prepared, without lifejackets. Alcohol also appears to have been a factor."
The alarm was raised about 8pm last night after a few members of the party were separated from the group when their lilos deflated, he said.
A search and rescue operation was launched and by 10.15pm, seven of the men had been found."
The search efforts included the police, LandSAR volunteers, Upper Hutt Community Rescue, Westpac Rescue Helicopter and Palmerston North White Water Rescue.
Mr Wright said the search resumed at first light today and the remaining three were found near the Te Marua Golf Course about 7.30am.
He said the incident should senda warning about the dangers of being ill-equipped for water adventures.
As summer approaches, water users make sure they are well prepared with wetsuits, lifejackets and suitable flotations devices.
And alcohol and water were a lethal cocktail, Mr Wright said.