A call reached Coastguard just before 8:15pm on a Saturday evening, reporting a capsized vessel and a person in the water. Within minutes, five volunteers had launched the Waiariki rescue boat, though pinpointing the man's exact location proved far from straightforward.
The crew pushed on through strong winds, a one-metre swell and poor visibility as they searched for him.
"He was dressed in heavy camouflage hunting clothing, which made him difficult to see. When rescuers reached him, he was suffering from hypothermia," Coastguard said.
Water temperatures on the lake were around 10 degrees, and the man was believed to have been in the water for up to an hour by the time he was found.
Wanaka Coastguard Skipper Dave Brown noted that the rescue crew had a doctor on board, and treatment began the moment the man was pulled clear of the water. "Our crew got him out of the water, into warm clothing and blankets, and began treatment straight away before transporting him back to the marina, where he was handed over to ambulance staff," Brown said.
"He was pretty lucky... He got the best care possible - you couldn't get any better in those circumstances," Brown said. "It was an extremely quick and coordinated rescue. From launch to recovery, the crew performed exceptionally well in difficult conditions."
Brown used the incident to reinforce what he described as a simple but vital message for anyone heading out on the water. "The key message is simple - always wear a lifejacket. And always check the forecast. The weather wasn't great, and conditions can change quickly on the lake." He stressed that wearing a lifejacket at all times and keeping up to date with the weather forecast are habits every boatie must maintain.
