Two kayakers dead, nine rescued in New Zealand, says reports

Wellington: Two people were dead and nine others rescued after a kayaking trip on New Zealand's Lake Tekapo was hit by an unexpected weather change, reports said yesterday.

Police inspector Dave Gaskin, mid-south Canterbury area commander, told Radio New Zealand that those rescued were suffering hypothermia and taken to hospital. Gaskin said the group was caught by a strong wind on scenic Lake Tekapo in New Zealand's South Island and had found themselves in the water.

"They got into difficulty when they'd unexpectedly been hit by a strong wind, and they'd been pushed further out into the lake," he said.