Rescuers rush into icy Central Otago lake after driver crashes ute into it

Thursday, 30 August 2018

A group of rescuers raced to save a man whose ute plunged into the freezing waters of a Central Otago lake.

The driver, in his 60s, was travelling along State Highway 8 towards Cromwell when the ute crashed into Lake Dunstan about 5.15pm on Thursday.

Constable Leon Burdett, of Alexandra police, extended his thanks to members of the public present at the time who raced to help the man from his vehicle.

'I'd just really like to thank the group who rushed to the man's aid and got him out of the lake, we're really grateful,' he said.

The man, the sole occupant of the ute, was taken to Dunstan Hospital in a serious condition.

The ute has been removed from the lake and an investigation into the cause of the crash is underway.