Lake users warned after kayaking deaths

Lake Wakatipu. Photo / Sarah Ivey

Queenstown's harbourmaster is urging lake users to follow local advice, after two kayakers died on Lake Wakatipu overnight.

The two tourists, believed to be from France, got caught out by a quick changing 20 knot southerly and one metre swells after ignoring advice several hours earlier to "get the hell off the lake".

Queenstown police were called shortly after 10pm yesterday by a tourism operator who had received a cell phone distress call from the two men in an open double kayak, Senior Sergeant John Fookes said.

Police, the Queenstown Coastguard, several local vessels and a night-vision equipped helicopter from Te Anau mounted a search.

The bodies of the two men - believed to be in their 20s - were found by the helicopter around 1am near the middle of the lake, about 3km west of Hidden Island.

Police are in the process of formally identifying the men and making enquiries to locate next of kin.

Queenstown harbourmaster Marty Black said a tourism operator near Hidden Island spoke to the pair about 11am yesterday and warned them of the changing conditions.

"The commercial operator told them they should get the hell off the lake and head back to Queenstown because the last few days there had been strong southerlies come through," he said.

"They did not heed that advice."

Around 10pm the tourism operator received a cell phone call from the men who were in trouble, and contacted Mr Black.

"I put the flag up, 111, got police, coastguard and everyone involved and went from there but unfortunately we didn't find them in time."

Mr Black said the men had probably been in the water for around three hours and likely died from the cold.

"If you fall into the water you will get into trouble, even if you have a life jacket. These guys did have life jackets."

The water temperature would have been around nine or 10 degrees Celsius, he said.

"Depending on your body make-up you only have about 20 to 30 minutes in the water."

While the pair were not wearing wetsuits, it may have not made a difference if they were, Mr Black said.

The men, who were believed to have been novice kayakers, only had one paddle between them.

Mr Black hoped the tragedy would be used as a warning for others looking to enjoy the country's waterways this summer.

"All our waterways are dangerous - treat them with respect," he said. "These overseas guys paid the ultimate price."

Mr Black said Queenstown had a number of commercial operators who offered good advice for people wishing to enjoy the lake.

"We can get weather changes come through the southern lakes very quickly. Following local knowledge is vitally important."

It is recommended novice kayakers stay within 100m of the shore and not head out into the middle of the lake, he said.

"We are annoyed - this shouldn't have happened. It's not a good start to the summer."

- With NZPA