A boy is dead after a boating tragedy in the deep south.
The boy, aged 12, is understood to have fallen from a sea biscuit just before 6pm today and was struck by a passing boat.
Senior Sergeant Brian Benn, of Dunedin, said the boy and his mother were flown to Dunedin Hospital after the incident at Blue Lake, St Bathans, Central Otago. Benn confirmed this evening the boy had died of his injuries.
The matter has been referred to the coroner.
A St Bathans local, who did not want to be identified, said it was devastating.
"There were kids having a good time and then these boats came on. There shouldn't be any boats on the lake."
Blue Lake is a man-made lake popular for swimming, fishing and boating.
St Bathans woman Lorraine Bennett said did not see the incident, but watched police cars tow two speed boats away from the scene.
Many people had been concerned about safety on the lake for a long time, Bennett said.
"[A death] has been a possibility at that lake and a lot of people are aware of it ... it's a tragedy and it shouldn't have happened."
Meetings had been held with Otago Regional Council and rules governing boating on the lake were brought in about two years ago. This included a limit on the number of boats allowed on the lake at the same time, and speed limits.
"[Our concerns] got the rules changed, it's made it a bit safer but not totally safe, not enough because this has happened.
"This is a tiny lake. It's barely two kilometres long and it's very narrow and it has a blind corner."
She understood today's incident occurred on that corner, Bennett said.