A man who drowned at waterfalls in a South Island river was attempting to rescue a friend when he got into trouble himself.
The pair had gone over a barrier into a pool above Maruia Falls on Maruia River, south of Murchison, on Saturday evening.
One of the men got into trouble and his companion Darryl Rolton, 54, went to help him. The pair were caught in strong currents and pulled down one of the chutes of the waterfall.
Mick Hopkinson from the Tasman District white water rescue team told Radio New Zealand's Morning Report programme other people at the scene managed to get a log attached to a strap out into the water.
They managed to rescue the first man but could not get the log to reach Mr Rolton and he passed out and drowned. His death has been referred to the coroner.
Mr Hopkinson said another person died at the falls two years ago, and warning signs in the area had been stolen.
A 55-year-old Christchurch man was taken to Nelson Hospital in a critical condition. His condition was stable on Monday.
Helicopter pilot Tim Douglas-Clifford who was involved in the original search for said the pools at the bottom of the waterfall were very deep and despite using the helicopter down-draught to move logs and other debris they were unable to locate the missing man. A police dive squad found his body about 3.30pm on Sunday.
