All safe after jetboat accident

Three people are safe and well after being thrown from a jetboat in Canterbury earlier this evening.

One of the people was swept downstream when the boat flipped on the Waimakariri river just north of Darfield at about 5.45pm, a police spokesman said.

But all three occupants of the boat are now safe.

The trio all made it back to shore but not at the same time, police said.

Police and the Westpac Rescue helicopter were combing the Waimakariri river for about an hour.

Garden City Helicopter general manager Simon Duncan said the passengers headed in different directions after being thrown from the boat.

"One person went off in one direction and the other two in another," he said.

Duncan said it was not advisable to drive a jetboat on the river after dark.

"Being dark it's very dangerous to drive a jetboat on a shallow river at night."

- © Fairfax NZ News