We went hunting for the weekend with a friend and our kids. The weather forecast was predicted to be fantastic clear days and nights. About 8km up the river a transmission over the hf radio in my vehicle stated severe storms in the rakaia river where we were. I immediately ordered everyone to get into the vehicles and get out the river to higher ground. As we drove back down stream, the storm overwhelmed us with poor visibility while the river level rose without warning. We finally got to the last crossing when I got swept 300m down the river with my children. The car washed up on the side of the bank of the river half submerged in water. My mate and his daughter were stranded in the river with their vehicle. They could not cross either by vehicle or by foot.

Using my hf I called the Mountain Radio Service for assistance. The kids were wet and freezing with the other 2 stranded in the river. A westpac rescue helicopter was dispatched, who recovers the 2 survivors in the river, returning to Christchurch with the children. I stayed with my mate on high ground till the morning so that we could arrange a recovery of both vehicles when the river level dropped. The kids made it back home safely, aged 8; 10 and 13.