Swollen river strands men on car roof

Three men and their dog spent three hours stranded on the roof of their car tonight in the middle of South Canterbury's Opihi River before being rescued.

The trio were plucked to safety by a rescue helicopter in an operation that included three fire engines, an ambulance, several police vehicles and a tractor.

Police said the car had begun to move with the current down the river, which was swollen by recent rains.

The men have been admitted to Timaru hospital with mild hypothermia.

It was not yet known how the car came to be in the river.

- Stuff.co.nz