13 Jan 2014

Search for boat after distress call

6:59 pm on 13 January 2014

Emergency services are searching for a boat off Woodend Beach north of Christchurch that made a distress call on Monday evening.

Police said the Rescue Coordination Centre was called briefly about 5pm before radio contact was lost.

There are three people on the boat, which is about 2km out to sea.

The Coastguard and rescue helicopters are searching the area.