Man leaves mate afloat in harbour, returns to hitting the booze at party

The mildly hypothermic and sodden man was taken by ambulance to Dunedin Hospital. Photo / Dean Purcell

A man returned to a party in Dunedin and continued drinking for 40 minutes after his friend either jumped or was pushed into Otago Harbour at the weekend, police say.

Senior Sergeant Craig Dinnissen, of Dunedin, said the bizarre incident early on Sunday could have resulted in tragedy, and has called on people to take better care of their mates.

Police were called by a security guard who said a drunk man had claimed to have thrown his friend into Otago Harbour about 2am on Sunday.

"We attended and the story changed, he then stated the person had jumped in the harbour 40 minutes earlier," Dinnissen said.

It emerged the man left the scene after his friend fell or was pushed into the harbour, returning to a party in nearby Jutland St and continuing to drink. Forty minutes later, he went back to the harbour, but his friend was nowhere to be seen.

"This guy has then returned and expected to find his friend treading water, which he wasn't."

Police began the process of scrambling search and rescue teams (SAR) when a hypothermic man appeared in his underwear, still wearing his shoes.

"So police were called and were in the process of calling out SAR when this sodden male appeared on the wharf wearing a pilot jacket, boxer shorts and some boots."

The mildly hypothermic man was taken by ambulance to Dunedin Hospital. Dinnissen said police would be following up with those involved and called on people to take better care of their friends.

"If your mates do something like that, then raise the alarm straight away.

"It could easily have resulted in something far worse."