Canterbury, 9 May 2026 - Just after 1:30pm today, Coastguard North Canterbury were notified by Police of a person, along with two dogs, stranded on a ute on the Waimakariri River, near Eyrewell Forest off Weedons Ross Road.
Volunteers deployed Blackwell Rescue - Coastguard’s swift water rescue vessel - travelling by water from base, while additional crew went by road to support.
The person and their dogs were safely retrieved and returned to shore.
Once the rescue was complete, Blackwell Rescue was loaded onto its trailer and the team returned to base.
“This was our first official swift water rescue response, and the crew were really chuffed to be able to carry it out successfully. It was a great opportunity to put our training into practice,” said Coastguard North Canterbury Vice President Logan Bryce.
The response was carried out alongside local Police and Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) crews.
Conditions can change quickly, even after rain has passed. Before heading out, check river flow and riverbed alerts from your local council.
